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UN Security Council launches straw poll to choose next secretary general
The 15-member council will need a candidate to win nine votes without triggering a veto from any of the five permanent members.
The United Nations Security Council has started the process to select the next UN secretary general, holding an initial straw poll behind closed doors to gauge support for the candidates in contention, according to SCMP Economy.
Antonio Guterres, the current secretary general, is due to complete his second five-year term on December 31, 2026, which would leave the post open for a new leader whose first day would be January 1, 2027.
The 15-member Security Council is tasked with choosing the next secretary general, then submitting its recommendation to the General Assembly for approval. A candidate needs nine votes to secure the role but must avoid a veto, meaning none of the five permanent members can vote against the selection; those members can also abstain if they do not fully agree.
Seven candidates are listed as currently running for the replacement, including Michelle Bachelet, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Rafael Grossi, Rebeca Grynspan, Olara Otunnu, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, and Macky Sall.