Costa Rica's Grynspan Narrowly Leads Race for Next UN Chief

Former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan has taken a narrow lead in the race to become the next United Nations secretary-general, according to people familiar with the latest Security Council poll.

Grynspan received 10 “encourage” votes, while three members voted “discourage” and two gave no opinion.

The latest result puts Grynspan slightly ahead of the other candidates, but the race is still open. Guyana’s UN Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi each received eight “encourage” votes.

The next secretary-general will succeed António Guterres, whose second term ends on December 31, 2026.

• Rebeca Grynspan narrowly leads the race to become the next UN chief
• Grynspan gets 10 encourage votes in fourth UN secretary-general poll
• UN leadership race remains open as Grossi and Rodrigues-Birkett seek support

Grynspan Leads as Race Remains Closely Contested

The latest vote was the fourth informal poll held by the 15-member UN Security Council as countries consider candidates for the top UN post. Grynspan also led the first and third rounds, held in July and September. Rodrigues-Birkett came out ahead in the second round in August.

The results have shifted from one round to another, showing that council members have not yet settled on a clear choice. The informal polls are used to gauge the level of support and opposition for each candidate before the council moves toward a formal recommendation.

Rodrigues-Birkett received eight “encourage” votes, six “discourage” votes and one “no opinion” vote in the latest round. Grossi also received eight “encourage” votes, but seven members marked him “discourage.”

The council keeps the individual votes confidential, so it is not known which countries supported or opposed each candidate. The results therefore show the overall level of support without revealing how individual members voted.

Costa Rica formally nominated Grynspan for the position in March. She previously served as the country's vice president and held several government positions, including roles related to economic and social affairs and housing. She has also worked with international organisations and on issues involving development and global cooperation.

The field has already changed during the race. Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet withdrew her candidacy on September 21. The remaining candidates will continue seeking support as the UN leadership race moves through the selection process.

Security Council Members Face Key Decision

The informal polls do not decide who becomes secretary-general. The Security Council must eventually agree on a candidate and recommend that person to the 193-member UN General Assembly, which then formally appoints the secretary-general.

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council — the United States, China, Russia, France and the United Kingdom — have a major role in the process. Any of them can block a recommendation with a veto, meaning candidates need to secure support across the council rather than simply lead an informal poll.

More consultations and voting rounds are expected in the coming months. The candidate with the most “encourage” votes is not automatically selected. Council members must work toward an agreement before a formal recommendation can be made.

Whoever takes over from Guterres will inherit a UN facing several major challenges, including armed conflicts, humanitarian emergencies, financial pressure and disagreements among member states. The organisation is also under pressure to improve its ability to respond to global crises and work with countries on issues that cross national borders.

If Grynspan is eventually selected, she would make history as the first woman to serve as UN secretary-general. However, her lead in the latest poll does not guarantee that she will get the post. The selection still depends on negotiations within the Security Council and approval by the General Assembly.

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Guterres is due to leave office at the end of 2026. That gives the Security Council several months to continue consultations, conduct further polls and reach an agreement on his successor. The next rounds of voting are likely to provide a clearer picture of the next UN chief and the direction of the selection process.