# UN SG race: Rodrigues-Birkett leads as veto tensions rise > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/un-secretarygeneral-succession-race-highlights-push-for-a-female-leader > Updated: 2026-09-04T05:58:22.000Z. Sources: 268. Developments: 29. The United Nations Security Council selection process for a successor to António Guterres has entered a high-stakes phase. Following two rounds of informal voting, three primary frontrunners have emerged: Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan, and Argentina’s Rafael Mariano Grossi. Rodrigues-Birkett currently leads the race, having secured eight votes of ‘encouragement’ in the most recent round, placing her just one vote shy of the nine required for a formal recommendation. The selection is heavily shaped by the veto power of the five permanent Security Council members. Geopolitical friction is impacting several candidacies: the United States reportedly opposes Michelle Bachelet due to her perceived closeness to China, while Russia and the United Kingdom have expressed reservations regarding Grossi. Grossi’s standing remains complicated by his history with Iran’s nuclear program and previous tensions with Moscow regarding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. Other candidates remaining in the field include María Fernanda Espinosa, Macky Sall, Olara Otunnu, and Ivonne Baki. The process is moving faster than previous transitions, with the possibility of a conclusion in as few as four rounds. A final selection, involving a Security Council recommendation and a General Assembly vote, is expected to conclude between September and October 2026, with the new Secretary-General assuming office on 1 January 2027. ## Claims - Seven candidates are competing for the UN secretary‑general post. (disputed by 21 sources) - Eight candidates are currently in the running for the position. (disputed by 11 sources) - Rafael Grossi received seven encourage votes, two discourage votes and six neutral votes in the first informal UN Security Council straw poll on 30 July 2026. (disputed by 7 sources) - The UN Security Council held its first informal straw poll on 30 July 2026. (corroborated by 29 sources) - Rebeca Grynspan received ten encourage votes in the first straw poll. (corroborated by 29 sources) - Carolyn Rodrigues‑Birkett received nine encourage votes in the first straw poll. (corroborated by 29 sources) - A candidate must obtain at least nine votes and avoid a veto to be nominated. (corroborated by 29 sources) - Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett received eight 'encourage' votes, three 'discourage' votes, and four no opinion votes in the second informal poll. (corroborated by 29 sources) - Rebeca Grynspan received seven 'encourage' votes, four 'discourage' votes, and four 'no opinion' votes. (corroborated by 29 sources) - Rafael Mariano Grossi received seven 'encourage' votes, six 'discourage' votes, and two 'no opinion' votes. (corroborated by 29 sources) - The UN Security Council is conducting a second round of indicative voting to select the next UN Secretary-General. (corroborated by 28 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-04: Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett leads race to succeed UN chief Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett has emerged as the frontrunner in the race to succeed UN Secretary-General António Guterres, as two women lead the Security Council straw polls. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/carolyn-rodrigues-birkett-leads-race-to-succeed-un-chief ### 2026-08-26: United Nations Secretary-General race intensifies among eight candidates The race for UN Secretary-General is heating up, with Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Rebeca Grynspan, and Rafael Grossi leading after informal Security Council votes. Geopolitical veto concerns remain high. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/rafael-grossi-emerges-as-top-contender-for-un-secretary-general ### 2026-08-24: Macky Sall maintains six UN Security Council endorsements in Secretary-General race Macky Sall maintains six UN Security Council endorsements in the Secretary-General race, while Guyana's Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett nears the nine-vote threshold. Senegal and Uganda are discussing a joint African 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/macky-sall-maintains-six-un-security-council-endorsements-in-secretary-general-race ### 2026-08-21: Macky Sall rises to fourth place in UN Secretary-General straw poll Former Senegalese President Macky Sall rose to fourth place in the UN Security Council’s second straw poll for Secretary-General, though he faces more opposition than support with a negative net vote balance. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/macky-sall-rises-to-fourth-place-in-un-secretary-general-straw-poll ### 2026-08-21: UN Security Council straw poll: Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett leads race Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett leads the second UN Security Council straw poll for Secretary-General, ahead of Rebeca Grynspan and Rafael Grossi, as the race to succeed António Guterres intensifies. 51 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/carole-rodriguez-birkett-leads-second-un-secretary-general-informal-vote ### 2026-08-19: UN Security Council holds second vote for Secretary-General successor The UN Security Council is holding a second round of indicative voting to select the next Secretary-General to succeed Antonio Guterres, with eight candidates competing for the role. 32 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/united-nations-holds-second-preliminary-vote-for-secretary-general ### 2026-08-05: Macky Sall faces setbacks in UN Secretary‑General straw poll Macky Sall lagged in the UN Secretary‑General straw poll (6‑7‑2) and faces a second vote on Aug 21; no permanent‑member veto yet, analysts say he is in difficulty. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/macky-sall-faces-setback-in-un-secretarygeneral-informal-poll ### 2026-08-03: UN Security Council schedules August 21 poll for next Secretary-General The UN Security Council, led by Denmark, plans a second informal poll on Aug 21 to select the next secretary‑general, with Rebeca Grynspan leading a field of seven candidates and the process possibly extending 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/un-security-council-schedules-august-21-poll-for-next-secretary-general ### 2026-08-03: United Nations sees historic female‑majority slate for Secretary‑General race Four women and two men contest the UN Secretary‑General post, giving the race a historic female majority and prompting calls for greater gender equality in multilateral leadership. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/united-nations-sees-historic-femalemajority-slate-for-secretarygeneral-race ### 2026-08-02: United Nations selects new Secretary‑General for 2027 The UN is electing a new Secretary‑General to replace António Guterres, with candidates like Michelle Bachelet and Rafael Grossi vying for the role; the winner takes office on 1 Jan 2027. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/united-nations-selects-new-secretarygeneral-for-2027 ### 2026-07-30: Macky Sall's UN Secretary-General Campaign Responds to First Informal Vote UN Security Council's July 30 informal vote on the next Secretary‑General showed an open race, with a provisional tilt toward a female Latin‑American candidate; Macky Sall’s campaign says it will keep pushing ‑ 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/macky-salls-un-secretarygeneral-campaign-responds-to-first-votetest ### 2026-07-29: Rebeca Grynspan tops UN Secretary‑General straw poll UN Security Council’s first informal straw poll (30 July 2026) shows Rebeca Grynspan leading with 10 encourage votes, followed by Carolyn Rodrigues‑Birkett (9) and Rafael Grossi (7); a candidate needs 9 votes, 69 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/un-secretary-general-succession-vote-begins-with-seven-candidates ### 2026-07-28: UN Secretary‑General Candidates Convene in Uruguay for Historic Regional Dialogue Five UN Secretary‑General candidates, mostly from Latin America and the Caribbean, will meet in Montevideo on 3 August 2026, with in‑person and virtual participation, amid concerns of Security Council deadlock. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uruguay-hosts-regional-dialogue-with-un-secretarygeneral-candidates ### 2026-07-27: UN Security Council to Hold Straw Poll for New Secretary‑General The UN Security Council will hold a secret straw poll on July 28 to assess seven candidates for Secretary‑General, needing nine votes and no veto from the five permanent members; no clear front‑runner is yet in 14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/un-secretarygeneral-candidates-unveiled-for-2027-appointment ### 2026-07-23: United Nations hosts televised debate of six candidates for next secretary‑general On July 23 2026 the UN held a live televised debate of six candidates—Bachelet, Espinosa, Grossi, Grynspan, Rodrigues‑Birkett and Sall—who outlined reforms, financing and crisis responses as the organization ne 70 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/un-secretarygeneral-candidate-debate-launches-selection-process ### 2026-07-10: Al Gore says Trump's influence wanes, predicts Democratic win and backs Bachelet for UN chief Al Gore in Chile says Trump’s influence is fading, expects Democrats to win the mid‑terms, and endorses Michelle Bachelet as a strong UN secretary‑general candidate. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/al-gore-says-trumps-influence-wanes-predicts-democratic-win-and-backs-bachelet-for-un-chief ### 2026-07-10: UN Security Council Concludes Informal Talks with Secretary‑General Candidates UN Security Council wrapped up informal talks with three SG candidates, with a fourth to meet later; the UN General Assembly will hold a candidate debate on 23 July, ahead of a new Secretary‑General taking over 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/un-security-council-concludes-informal-talks-with-secretarygeneral-candidates ### 2026-07-09: Michelle Bachelet praised by Al Gore amid UN secretary‑general campaign Al Gore praised former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet as a strong UN secretary‑general candidate while she tours the world for support, missing Chile’s 200‑year presidential anniversary. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/michelle-bachelet-praised-by-al-gore-amid-un-secretarygeneral-campaign ### 2026-07-02: UN Secretary‑General Race Highlights Candidates' Climate Stances UN members nominate candidates to succeed Guterres as secretary‑general, with six nominees assessed on their climate positions, underscoring the role's climate‑policy influence. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/un-secretarygeneral-race-highlights-candidates-climate-stances ### 2026-06-29: UN prepares to select new Secretary‑General as Guterres' term ends The UN will appoint a new Secretary‑General in 2026 as Guterres' term ends, with candidates facing issues like economic turmoil, AI, climate change, and Security Council reform; three women are in the race. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/un-prepares-to-select-new-secretarygeneral-as-guterres-term-ends ### 2026-06-17: Michelle Bachelet gains new backing for UN Secretary‑General bid Former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet secures new support from Brazil, Mexico and the Progressive Alliance of the Americas for her UN Secretary‑General candidacy, after Chile’s right‑wing president rescind 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/michelle-bachelet-gains-new-backing-for-un-secretarygeneral-bid ### 2026-06-09: Women candidates debate UN leadership in Geneva Bachelet, Grynspan and Espinosa debate in Geneva, each urging UN reforms, independent mediation and a historic first woman secretary‑general. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/latin-american-women-vie-for-un-secretarygeneral-post ### 2026-06-07: UN announces slate of candidates to succeed Secretary‑General António Guterres The UN is reviewing five nominated candidates, including Argentina’s IAEA chief and former Chilean presidents, to replace António Guterres whose term ends Dec 31, with interviews and votes slated through June–J 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/un-announces-slate-of-candidates-to-succeed-secretarygeneral-antnio-guterres ### 2026-06-03: Michelle Bachelet meets Chinese officials while campaigning for UN Secretary‑General Michelle Bachelet met Chinese leaders in Beijing to seek backing for her UN Secretary‑General bid, emphasizing multilateralism amid past criticism of China’s human‑rights record. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/michelle-bachelet-meets-chinese-officials-while-campaigning-for-un-secretarygeneral ### 2026-05-13: Michelle Bachetel warns of women’s rights setbacks in Latin America as she campaigns for UN Secretary‑General Bachelet warns of women’s rights erosion in Latin America while ramping up her UN Secretary‑General campaign. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/michelle-bachetel-warns-of-womens-rights-setbacks-in-latin-america-as-she-campaigns-for-un-secretary ### 2026-05-12: María Fernanda Espinosa Nominated for UN Secretary‑General Succession Ecuador’s María Fernanda Espinosa is nominated by Antigua and Barbuda as a candidate to replace UN Secretary‑General António Guterres. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mara-fernanda-espinosa-nominated-for-un-secretarygeneral-succession ### 2026-05-04: China backs female candidate for UN Secretary‑General, citing support for Michelle Bachelet China says it would be very happy to see a woman, such as Michelle Bachelet, become UN Secretary‑General. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/china-backs-female-candidate-for-un-secretarygeneral-citing-support-for-michelle-bachelet ### 2026-04-21: Bachelet pushes bid for UN Secretary-General, emphasizes female leadership Former Chilean president Bachelet pushes UN Secretary-General candidacy, says age should not matter and a woman could lead. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bachelet-pushes-bid-for-un-secretary-general-emphasizes-female-leadership ### 2026-04-21: Four candidates vie for UN Secretary-General successor as Guterres steps down Four diplomats, two women and two men, compete to replace UN Secretary-General Guterres, with a German moderator overseeing the transition. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/four-candidates-vie-for-un-secretary-general-successor-as-guterres-steps-down --- Cite as: UN SG race: Rodrigues-Birkett leads as veto tensions rise. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/un-secretarygeneral-succession-race-highlights-push-for-a-female-leader