United Nations faces deadlock over next Secretary-General election

The upcoming election for the next United Nations Secretary-General, to succeed António Guterres on December 31, faces potential deadlock due to divisions within the Security Council. While the United States reportedly supports Argentine Rafael Grossi, current IAEA Director, his candidacy faces resistance from veto-wielding members such as Russia.

Simultaneously, several European members, particularly from the Nordic region, are advocating for the appointment of the first female Secretary-General in the organization's history. A report by GWL Voices titled ‘Women in Multilateralism 2026’ highlights a historical gender imbalance, noting that since 1946, nine men have held the position. The study identified only eight official female candidates in the organization's history, compared to 48 men.

Diplomats are considering various outcomes to avoid a prolonged vacancy, including the appointment of an interim Secretary-General or the pursuit of extraordinary candidacies such as Rebeca Grynspan or Carolyn Rodrigues-Birketty.