No permanent Security Council member should possess an effective veto over the secretary-general selection

Space strategy, priorities and milestones related to foreign affairs.

Former Costa Rican vice-president Rebeca Grynspan led the Security Council's informal polls, most recently the sixth, on 16 October, with nine encourage votes, five discourage votes and one no-opinion vote, including two discourage votes from permanent members. In the fourth poll she received ten encourage votes, three discourage votes and two no-opinion votes. The polls are neither a nomination nor a final result, and a successful candidate ultimately requires acceptance by all five permanent Security Council members.

Diplomats reported that the first colour-coded straw poll left all seven candidates opposed by at least one permanent Security Council member. Grynspan, Grossi and Rodrigues Birkett reportedly received two P5 discouragement votes each. These were informal ballots, not formal vetoes.