UN Security Council to hold second round vote on next secretary-general

The UN Security Council is set to hold a second round of informal voting on Friday (August 21) to gauge member states' support for candidates seeking to become the organisation's next secretary-general.

The confidential ballot is part of the selection process and is intended to assess how much backing each candidate has among the council's 15 members.

Costa Rica's Rebecca Grynspan emerged as the leading candidate in the first round of voting held in July. The council comprises five permanent members—the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France—with veto power, and 10 non-permanent members.

The second round includes Grynspan, Argentina's Rafael Grossi, former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, Ecuador's Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Guyana's Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Uganda's Olara Otunnu and former Senegalese president Macky Sall. Ecuador's Ivonne A-Baki entered the race after the first round.

Daniel Forti, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, said the second ballot could offer a clearer picture of the race. The key question will be whether the frontrunners have consolidated their support or lost ground since the first round. However, he said a candidate is unlikely to emerge as a clear winner at this stage.

Winning nine votes is considered important, but a simple majority will not be enough to secure the post. Any candidate can be blocked by a veto from one of the five permanent members, adding another layer of uncertainty to the process amid deep divisions among the major powers on several global issues.

Russia's UN ambassador Vasily Nebenzia has also indicated that new candidates could enter the race if the process reaches an impasse. If the Security Council eventually agrees on a candidate, it will recommend the nominee to the General Assembly for appointment.

Current Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' second term ends on December 31.