Diplomatic moves have intensified at the United Nations Headquarters as the Security Council gathers behind closed doors to hold its second informal straw poll, gauging support for candidates vying to become the world’s top diplomat.
The secret ballot marks a critical phase in the search for a successor to Secretary-General António Guterres, who concludes his second five-year term at the end of December.
Entering Friday's confidential voting session, Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan holds the early momentum following a strong performance in the initial July straw poll.
However, with eight official candidates now in the running, including newly nominated Ecuadorian diplomat Ivonne A-Baki alongside high-profile contenders like IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, and former Senegalese President Macky Sall, the field remains dynamic.
Observers expect notable shifts as the Council’s 15 member states submit their "encourage," "discourage," or "no opinion" ballots for each applicant.
While today's poll aims to test the waters and narrow the playing field, a decisive front-runner is unlikely to emerge just yet.
The five permanent members, the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom, hold ultimate veto power and typically withhold their definitive preferences until later rounds, when color-coded ballots are introduced.
With the selection process expected to stretch into the last quarter of 2026 before a formal recommendation is sent to the General Assembly, today’s vote provides a crucial benchmark for which candidacies are gaining ground and which may soon face an uphill battle.
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