UN leadership race remains open after veto powers withhold consensus

The contest to succeed António Guterres as United Nations secretary-general remains unresolved after the Security Council’s first colour-coded straw poll showed that every declared candidate faced opposition from at least two permanent members. The special ballots distinguish the views of the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France, any one of which can block a recommendation.

UN trade chief Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica remained the leading candidate with nine “encourage” votes, five “discourage” votes and one “no opinion,” according to diplomats cited by the Associated Press and Reuters. Two of the negative votes came from permanent members. Rafael Grossi of Argentina and Guyana’s UN ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett also received two permanent-member objections.

Because the poll was secret, the countries behind individual votes were not disclosed. US and Russian ambassadors both left open the possibility that more candidates could enter before the council recommends one name to the General Assembly. Regional rotation points to Latin America and there is strong pressure to appoint the first woman to lead the organisation, but neither convention overrides the veto. Another colour-coded poll is expected next week; until a candidate reduces permanent-member opposition, the frontrunner’s position is provisional rather than decisive.