The United Nations Security Council began the selection process for the next secretary general on Thursday, with a first “straw poll” held behind closed doors to evaluate support for candidates vying for the role at the embattled world body.
Antonio Guterres, the current UN chief, is set to complete his second five-year term on the final day of 2026, leaving the high-profile role open for a new leader whose first day would be January 1, 2027.
The 15-member Security Council is responsible for picking the next UN chief before submitting its recommendation to the General Assembly for approval.
While the winning candidate requires nine votes to secure the position, they must avoid a veto, which ultimately means none of the council’s five permanent members must vote against them.
All five permanent members have the right of veto. If one does not fully agree with a proposed person but does not wish to cast a veto, it may choose to abstain.
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The four women and three men currently in the running for Guterres’ replacement are Michelle Bachelet of Chile, Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, Rafael Grossi of Argentina, Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, Olara Otunnu of Uganda, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana and Macky Sall of Senegal.