Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett leads in UN Secretary-General selection poll
Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, the Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, emerged as the top candidate in the second informal straw poll for the selection of the next UN Secretary-General, held on Friday by the Security Council.
As the world is rocked by conflicts, climate crises and growing inequality, the selection of a new UN Secretary-General is not merely a bureaucratic procedure, but a search for a leader capable of uniting humanity in the face of common challenges. Each straw poll in the Security Council brings us closer to the moment when a voice will be chosen to speak on behalf of all peoples — a task requiring not only diplomatic experience but also wisdom, courage and the ability to hear those whose voices rarely resound on the global stage.
According to sources familiar with the closed-ballot results, Rodrigues-Birkett received eight "encourage" votes, ahead of Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan. "The second round of straw polls has taken place," said Christina Markus Lassen, Denmark's Ambassador to the UN, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council for August. After the secret ballot, Lassen told reporters that "the candidates will be informed of the results through the respective permanent representatives of the member states that nominated them. The President of the General Assembly will also be informed of the completion of the straw poll."
During the straw polls, the Security Council selects a candidate to recommend to the General Assembly for appointment as the next UN Secretary-General. The informal closed polls of candidates by Council members are surveys conducted to gauge support for the candidates. Their results are not officially published. Article 97 of the UN Charter states that the Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.
Lassen did not provide any details of Friday's vote. However, it is believed that all eight candidates were included on the ballot. The eight candidates currently in the race are: Yvonne A-Baki, former minister and diplomat of Ecuador; Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; María Fernanda Espinosa, former President of the UN General Assembly and former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defence of Ecuador; Rafael Grossi of Argentina, current Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency; Rebeca Grynspan, former Vice President of Costa Rica and current Secretary General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development; Olara Otunnu of Uganda, former UN Under Secretary General; Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations; and Macky Sall, former President of Senegal.
The process of electing a UN Secretary General traditionally begins with informal straw polls in the Security Council, held several months before the incumbent's term expires. Although these votes are confidential, they provide an indication of the balance of forces and help narrow down the field of candidates. It is believed that the candidate who receives the highest number of "encourage" votes and the fewest "discourage" votes has the best chance of receiving the Council's recommendation.
The term of the current UN Secretary General, António Guterres, expires on 31 December. This year's selection is notable for the fact that for the first time, candidates from Latin America and the Caribbean dominate the race, reflecting a push for geographical balance and the strengthening of the Global South's voice.
As CCTV+ reports, the Guyanese representative's lead in the second round of the straw poll signals the growing influence of small states within the UN system. However, further informal consultations and possibly additional rounds lie ahead before the Security Council can present a single candidate to the General Assembly. The world is holding its breath to see who will take the helm at a time when the future of international cooperation and global stability depends so crucially on the next Secretary General.
