The next United Nations secretary-general should be a woman

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The Security Council is using informal straw polls to narrow the candidates seeking to succeed António Guterres at the beginning of 2027. Michelle Bachelet withdrew after her support reportedly collapsed, leaving seven declared candidates, while Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan led the latest informal poll. Further candidates could still enter before the Security Council recommends one nominee to the General Assembly.

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.