UN Security Council holds fifth straw poll to select next secretary-general
In short
The UN Security Council held its fifth round of straw polls on October 7 in the selection of the next UN secretary-general. The council's president for the month, Greece's permanent representative to the UN, Ba'erta (巴尔塔), said candidates would be told the results through the countries that nominated them. The polls are held behind closed doors and their results are not officially recorded or made public.
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The UN Security Council held the fifth round of straw polls on October 7 in the selection of the next UN secretary-general, CLS, Xinhua and Jiemian reported. After the vote, Greece's permanent representative to the UN, Ba'erta (巴尔塔), who holds the council's rotating presidency for the month, said the results would be communicated to each candidate through the country that nominated them. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The straw polls are held behind closed doors, with only representatives of council members present. The results are not officially recorded and are not made public, according to CLS and Jiemian. The selection of the next secretary-general began last November. [ 1 , 3 ]
Jiemian, citing CCTV News, reported that the council's first four straw polls took place on July 30, August 21, September 18 and September 29, and that there are currently seven candidates for the post. [ 3 ]
The current secretary-general, Guterres, is from Portugal. He took office in January 2017, was re-appointed in 2021, and his term runs until December 31 this year, Jiemian reported. By convention, a secretary-general serves a five-year term and may be re-appointed. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The straw polls are the Security Council's steps toward choosing a successor to Secretary-General Guterres, whose term ends on December 31 this year, according to Jiemian. Because the results are not published, the vote did not publicly show which of the candidates is ahead.
Key facts
- The UN Security Council held the fifth round of straw polls for the selection of the next secretary-general on October 7. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Greece's permanent representative to the UN, Ba'erta (巴尔塔), the council's president for the month, said the results would be passed to candidates through the countries that nominated them. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The selection of the next secretary-general began last November. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The straw polls are held behind closed doors with only council members' representatives present, and the results are not officially recorded or made public. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The previous four rounds were held on July 30, August 21, September 18 and September 29, Jiemian reported. [ 3 ]
- There are currently seven candidates for the post, according to Jiemian. [ 3 ]
- Secretary-General Guterres, from Portugal, took office in January 2017, was re-appointed in 2021 and serves until December 31 this year, Jiemian reported. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Security Council held its fifth round of straw polls on the next secretary-general. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The council president said candidates would learn the results through the countries that nominated them. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The selection process began last November. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The polls are closed-door, and their results are not officially recorded or published. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The results of the fifth straw poll. The documents say straw poll results are not officially recorded or made public.
- The number of candidates, given as seven, and the dates of the earlier rounds. Reported only by Jiemian, citing CCTV News.