UN Begins Selection Process for Next Secretary-General

The United Nations Security Council has initiated the process to select the next Secretary-General, with seven candidates vying for the top diplomatic post. The first informal vote was held to gauge support for the candidates, who include four women and three men.

The candidates include Michelle Bachelet of Chile, Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, Rafael Grossi of Argentina, Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, Olara Otunnu of Uganda, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana, and Macky Sall of Senegal. Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, is the most well-known candidate, but observers say there is no clear front-runner yet.

Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Asim Ahmed welcomed the start of the process, saying, ‘This is an important beginning. It’s crucial to choose an outstanding candidate.’

The Security Council’s five permanent members – the US, Russia, China, France, and the UK – have not yet publicly disclosed their preferences, making it difficult for diplomats to predict the outcome. A senior UN diplomat said, ‘My guess is as good as yours.’

A candidate needs to secure at least nine votes from the 15-member Security Council and avoid a veto from any of the five permanent members. If a candidate meets these conditions, their name will be put forward to the General Assembly for confirmation.

The first informal vote, known as a ‘straw poll,’ was held behind closed doors, with each member state casting a secret ballot for each candidate. The process is designed to test the level of support for each candidate and allow those with little backing to withdraw gracefully.

Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group told AFP that the informal vote can help identify candidates who are unlikely to succeed and allow them to withdraw with dignity. ‘If one candidate emerges with a decisive numerical lead, that would be an unusual development.’

The UN Secretary-General position traditionally rotates among regions, and this time, it is Latin America’s turn. Several candidates from the region are vying for the post, and Panama’s UN Ambassador Ilois Alvaro de Alba said, ‘It would be a priority to have a woman from Latin America as the winner, as many countries are pushing for a female Secretary-General for the first time.’