Rebeca Grynspan leads UN Secretary-General selection race after fourth straw poll

Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica has strengthened her position as the frontrunner to succeed António Guterres as the next United Nations Secretary-General. In the fourth informal straw poll conducted by the Security Council on September 30, 2026, Grynspan secured 10 'encourage' votes, three 'discourage' votes, and two 'no opinion' votes, surpassing the nine positive votes required to maintain a lead in the selection process.

The ballot results placed Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana in second place with eight 'encourage' and six 'discourage' votes. Rafael Mariano Grossi of Argentina also received eight positive votes, though he faced seven 'discourage' votes. Other candidates followed with lower support, including Olara Otunnu (five positive), Macky Sall (five positive), María Fernanda Espinosa (three positive), and Yvonne A-Baki (one positive).

This fourth round of voting reflects ongoing diplomatic maneuvers as member states continue to evaluate candidates. The selection process remains active, with the Council working toward a consensus to ensure a smooth transition of leadership. Further diplomatic discussions are expected to continue as the UN narrows the field of contenders.