UN Security Council Stalemate Continues in Search for New Secretary-General
No candidate has secured the backing of all five permanent members, leaving the selection process open to new contenders.
The latest straw poll for the United Nations secretary-general has revealed that none of the seven candidates currently in contention have garnered the support of all five permanent members of the Security Council, who hold veto power. This outcome leaves the door open for the introduction of new candidates if the current contenders cannot win over these key nations – the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France – in the race to succeed António Guterres.
This secret poll, the first to use red ballots to distinguish votes from the permanent five, followed the pattern of previous rounds where council members voted to "encourage," "discourage," or express "no opinion" on the candidates. Three leading contenders – U.N. trade chief Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, U.N. nuclear chief Rafael Grossi of Argentina, and Guyana’s U.N. ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett – each received two "discourage" votes from the permanent members. Grynspan maintained the top position with nine "encourage" votes.
While the specific votes of each council member were not disclosed, U.S. officials have previously indicated that none of the current candidates are ideal from the perspective of the Trump administration, which has focused on significant reform of the global body and a potential withdrawal from certain U.N. agencies. However, these officials have not ruled out supporting an announced candidate as the U.S. position continues to be refined.
U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz emphasized the need for "strong, energetic leadership" capable of refocusing the 193-member organization on its core mission of peace and security. He suggested the U.N. needs to streamline its operations, likening it to putting the institution "on a diet."
Traditionally, the role of secretary-general rotates by region, and it is currently Latin America's turn. There is also a noted pressure to select a woman for the position, which would make her the first female leader of the U.N. Waltz stated that while regional rotation is understood, the primary criterion remains selecting the "best candidate," adding that the U.S. would "welcome" a woman if she is the most qualified.
The candidates at the lower end of Friday's poll were Maria Fernanda Espinosa, a former president of the General Assembly and Ecuador's foreign minister, and Ivonne A-Baki, a former Ecuadorian ambassador. Two African candidates, former U.N. diplomat Olara Otunnu of Uganda and former Senegalese President Macky Sall, received 10 "discourage" votes each.
Both Waltz and Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia acknowledged the possibility of new candidates emerging. Waltz expressed confidence that the selection would be finalized by the end of the year, a sentiment echoed by Nebenzia.
The next straw poll, which will also utilize red ballots, is scheduled for the following week.