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The UN Security Council has held a fourth non-binding straw poll as the process to select a successor to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres moves forward.
French Ambassador to the UN Jerome Bonnafont, who is presiding over the Security Council in September, confirmed that the latest round had been completed, according to the UN.
“The fourth round of straw polls has taken place. Each candidate will be informed of the results through the respective permanent representatives of nominating member states,” Bonnafont told reporters.
He said the president of the UN General Assembly would also be notified that the poll had concluded. Seven candidates were included in the fourth round, he said.
How the UN selection process works
The secret straw polls are designed to measure support among the 15 Security Council members and may help narrow the field before the council makes a formal recommendation to the General Assembly.
A candidate must receive at least nine votes in the Security Council. However, any of the five permanent members — the United States, China, France, Russia and the United Kingdom — can block a candidate by using its veto.
The General Assembly must formally appoint the nominee, although that step is generally considered a formality once the Security Council has reached agreement.
Eight candidates nominated
Multiple reports said Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan was leading the race to become the next UN chief.
Eight candidates have been nominated so far: Grynspan; Rafael Grossi of Argentina, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency; former Senegalese President Macky Sall; Guyana’s UN Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett; former UN General Assembly President Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador; former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet; Ugandan politician and diplomat Olara Otunnu; and Ecuadorian diplomat Ivonne A-Baki.
Guterres’ term ends on Dec. 31.
