UN Security Council holds first straw poll for new Secretary-General

On Thursday, July 30, 2026, the United Nations Security Council conducted an informal straw poll behind closed doors to assess the viability of seven candidates vying to succeed Antonio Guterres as the next UN Secretary-General. The secret ballot was held in the council's chamber to gauge support for the contenders, with participants receiving options to "encourage" or "discourage" the bids. This initial phase marks the beginning of the selection process governed by Article 97 of the UN Charter, which requires the Council to recommend a candidate to the General Assembly for appointment.

The seven candidates identified are Rafael Grossi from Argentina, Michelle Bachelet from Chile, Rebeca Grynspan from Costa Rica, Maria Fernanda Espinosa from Ecuador, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett from Guyana, Macky Sall from Senegal, and Olara Otunnu from Uganda. While one source erroneously cited Ban Ki-moon as the outgoing official, official reporting confirms Guterres is the current Secretary-General. Zenon Mukongo Ngay, the Council President for July, confirmed the conclusion of this first round, which follows the withdrawal of a previous nomination from the Maldives in March 2026. The process is expected to continue with further consultations to narrow the field.