Grynspan leads UN secretary-general straw poll for third time as opposition votes rise
In short
Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan, head of UNCTAD, placed first for the third consecutive time in the fifth informal Security Council straw poll on 7 October to choose the next UN secretary-general, with 9 encourage and 6 discourage votes, the Mainichi Shimbun reported. Her discourage votes doubled from the previous round. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi was second and Guyana's UN ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett third.
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Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), placed first for the third consecutive time in the fifth informal straw poll held in the UN Security Council on 7 October to choose a successor to Secretary-General Guterres, whose term expires at the end of this year. The Mainichi Shimbun, citing people involved, reported that she received 9 encourage and 6 discourage votes, and that her discourage votes doubled from the previous poll. Nishi-Nippon Shimbun and Tokyo Shimbun also reported in their headlines that Grynspan placed first for a third straight time while opposition to her increased. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to Mainichi, IAEA Director General Grossi came second with 6 encourage and 7 discourage votes, and Guyana's UN ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett came third with 5 encourage and 9 discourage votes. All 15 permanent and non-permanent members of the Council took part. A Kyodo photo carried by Tokyo Shimbun showed the Russian delegation after the vote at UN headquarters in New York. [ 1 , 3 ]
Under the selection process, informal polls are repeated in the Security Council until a candidate obtains support from at least nine members with no permanent member opposed. Mainichi reported that it has not been disclosed whether any permanent members were among those casting discourage votes. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The poll is part of the process to choose a successor to Secretary-General Guterres, whose term ends at the end of this year. A candidate needs at least nine supporting votes and no opposition from a permanent member, and Mainichi reported it is not known whether any permanent member voted against the leading candidate.
Key facts
- The fifth informal straw poll to choose a successor to UN Secretary-General Guterres was held in the Security Council on 7 October. [ 1 ]
- UNCTAD Secretary-General Grynspan of Costa Rica placed first for the third consecutive time. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Grynspan received 9 encourage and 6 discourage votes; her discourage votes doubled from the previous poll, according to Mainichi. [ 1 ]
- IAEA Director General Grossi was second with 6 encourage and 7 discourage votes. [ 1 ]
- Guyana's UN ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett was third with 5 encourage and 9 discourage votes. [ 1 ]
- All 15 permanent and non-permanent Security Council members voted. [ 1 ]
- Straw polls continue until a candidate wins at least nine votes with no permanent member opposed. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether any permanent Security Council members cast discourage votes. Mainichi reported this has not been disclosed.
- The exact vote counts for each candidate. Only Mainichi gives the figures, citing people involved; straw poll results are informal.