UN Security Council schedules August 21 poll for next Secretary-General

The United Nations Security Council, chaired this month by Denmark, said it is aiming to hold a second informal poll on August 21 to narrow the field for the next UN secretary‑general. The first straw poll, conducted last week, showed former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan as a narrow early frontrunner among seven candidates, which also include former Guyanese foreign minister Carolyn Rodrigues‑Birkett, Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, former Ecuadorian foreign minister Maria Fernanda Espinosa, former Senegalese president Macky Sall and Ugandan diplomat Olara Otunnu.

Outgoing secretary‑general António Guterres will leave the post at the end of the year after two five‑year terms. The council must avoid a veto from any of the five permanent members – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States – as the selection process could continue into September or October. The use of colour‑coded ballots to reveal “discourage” votes by the P5 may be introduced in later rounds, but Denmark’s ambassador Christina Markus Lassen said that is not yet certain.