Shibbir Ahmed, United Nations Headquarters, New York: Guyana’s candidate Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett has taken the lead in the race to become the next United Nations secretary-general following the second informal vote by the UN Security Council. In Friday’s secret “straw poll” involving the Council’s 15 members, Rodrigues-Birkett received eight “encourage” votes.
Costa Rica’s candidate Rebeca Grynspan and Argentina’s Rafael Grossi tied for second, each receiving seven “encourage” votes. However, Grynspan remains ahead of Grossi overall because Grossi received more “discourage” votes.
Rodrigues-Birkett’s rise is significant. In the first informal poll held last month, Grynspan led the field with 10 “encourage” votes, while Rodrigues-Birkett was second with nine. In the second round, Grynspan’s support fell to seven votes, while Rodrigues-Birkett moved into first place with eight.
Eight Candidates in the Race
A total of eight candidates are competing for the next UN secretary-general position. The field reached eight after Ecuadorian diplomat Ivonne Baki entered the race as the latest candidate.
Rodrigues-Birkett, Grynspan and Grossi currently appear to be among the strongest contenders. The other candidates include Uganda’s Olara Otunnu, former Senegalese President Macky Sall, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, former Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Maria Fernanda Espinosa, and Ecuador’s Ivonne Baki.
Rodrigues-Birkett’s Prospects
Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana’s former foreign minister, currently serves as the country’s permanent representative to the United Nations. If elected, she would have the opportunity to become the first Caribbean and first woman to serve as UN secretary-general. Her candidacy has also received support from countries across the Caribbean region.
However, finishing first in an informal poll does not mean she has secured the position. The Security Council polls are informal, and several rounds of diplomatic negotiations and voting may take place before a final decision is reached.
The five permanent members of the Security Council—the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom and France—will play a particularly important role in determining the eventual nominee.
Grynspan Remains a Strong Contender
Although Grynspan slipped to second place after leading the first round, she remains one of the strongest candidates in the race. She is a former vice president of Costa Rica and currently serves as secretary-general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Meanwhile, Rafael Grossi serves as director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Although he received the same seven “encourage” votes as Grynspan in the second round, his higher number of “discourage” votes has weakened his position somewhat.
Final Decision Still Ahead
The second term of current UN Secretary-General António Guterres will end at the close of 2026. The new secretary-general is expected to take office on January 1, 2027. The Security Council will ultimately recommend one candidate, and the UN General Assembly will formally appoint that nominee.
Although Rodrigues-Birkett has moved into first place in the second informal poll, the race for UN secretary-general remains wide open. Further diplomatic negotiations and rounds of voting are expected to clarify the competition in the months ahead.
