In brief
On Thursday night, the UN Security Council, chaired by Latvia’s ambassador Sanita Pavluta‑Deslandes, carried out its eighth informal straw poll to assess candidates for the next Secretary‑General. The poll included eight potential successors, and Grynspan of Costa Rica has been named a front‑runner, though official vote counts remain undisclosed. The next Secretary‑General will take office on January 1, 2027.
The United Nations Security Council conducted its eighth informal straw poll during its November session, as Latvia’s ambassador Sanita Pavluta‑Deslandes, who holds the council’s rotating presidency for the month, announced that the election process was completed.
Each candidate will be informed of the poll results through the permanent representatives of the member states that nominated them; the president of the General Assembly will also be notified. Sanita Pavluta‑Deslandes said, “The eighth round of straw polls has taken place.”
Security Council straw polls are closed‑door ballots that gauge the viability of each applicant. The value of a vote is determined by whether a council member marks a candidate as “encouraged,” “discouraged,” or “no opinion expressed.” A candidate must receive at least nine encouraged votes and zero discouraged votes from any of the five permanent members to be considered for recommendation to the General Assembly.
Six candidates participated in the previous round, and two new candidates joined after that: Lana Nusseibeh of the United Arab Emirates and Feridun Hadi Sinirlioglu of Turkey. Together with the older nominees, the eighth poll featured Ivonne A‑Baki, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Rafael Grossi, and Rebeca Grynspan.
Sources confirm that Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica has emerged as the front‑runner in this round, though the exact vote counts have not been released. Because the poll results are not publicly disclosed, the final standings remain unconfirmed until the council formally announces a recommendation.
The next Secretary‑General is slated to assume office on 1 January 2027, following the conclusion of the current term.
