UN Secretary-General Race Stalls as Grynspan Leads Third Poll Amid Bachelet Exit

Key points

• Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica received nine 'encourage' votes in the third straw poll on Sept. 18, regaining the lead, but also received five 'discourage' votes.
• Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett followed with eight 'encourage' votes, while Argentina’s Rafael Grossi fell to five 'encourage' votes and eight 'discourage' votes.
• Michelle Bachelet of Chile withdrew from the race on Sept. 19 after receiving only one 'encourage' vote and 11 'discourage' votes in the latest poll.
• No date has been set for a fourth straw poll, though it may occur after the General Assembly’s high-level week ends on Sept. 28.
• Russia’s foreign ministry stated that no current candidate 'unambiguously satisfies' Moscow, indicating potential veto power among permanent members.

Background

The selection process for the next UN secretary-general has been ongoing since July 2026, with three straw polls held by the Security Council. Previous polls showed shifting leads, with Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett leading the second poll in August. The race is non-binding and iterative, aiming to identify a candidate who can secure nine 'encourage' votes and avoid vetoes from the five permanent Security Council members before António Guterres’ term ends on Dec. 31.

How outlets are covering it

PassBlue and The Tico Times emphasize Grynspan’s regained lead but note her growing opposition, with PassBlue suggesting two of her five 'discourage' votes may come from China and Russia. Al Jazeera highlights Bachelet’s withdrawal as a significant development, noting her bid to be the first woman to lead the UN. Geneva Solutions focuses on the lack of a clear front-runner and the potential for new candidates to enter the race, citing analyst Daniel Safran-Hon’s view that Grynspan is 'on life support.' All sources agree that the race remains unresolved and may drag on into fall, with concerns about the impact on the UN’s ability to address global crises.

Why it matters

The unresolved race for the next UN secretary-general could delay the organization’s ability to address critical global issues, including conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, and financial challenges. The lack of consensus among Security Council members, particularly the five permanent members, may lead to a prolonged selection process, potentially extending beyond Guterres’ term end in December. This could impact the UN’s credibility and effectiveness in addressing global crises.

What to watch

A fourth straw poll may be held after the General Assembly’s high-level week ends on Sept. 28, with Greece holding the rotating presidency of the Security Council in October. The race may see new candidates enter, and existing candidates may withdraw or adjust their strategies. The outcome will depend on securing nine 'encourage' votes and avoiding vetoes from permanent members, with the General Assembly’s final vote expected in late 2026 or early 2027.