Breaking News: Grynspan Narrowly Leads Race for Next UN Secretary-General, Sources Say

Sept 29 (Reuters) – An informal poll by ​the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday placed ‌former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan as the frontrunner in the contest to become the 10th UN secretary-general, sources close ​to the process said.

The fourth secret poll by ​the 15-member Security Council followed the gathering of ⁠world leaders at the General Assembly in New ​York last week. The first and third polls, held in ​July and September, also showed Grynspan narrowly ahead while an August poll placed Guyana’s U.N. Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett in the top spot.

​After former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet dropped out of ​the race this month, seven candidates are vying to succeed Antonio ‌Guterres. ⁠The former Portuguese prime minister steps down at the end of this year after two five-year terms. It is still possible for more candidates to enter the ​race.

Ultimately the ​five Security ⁠Council veto powers — the United States, China, Russia, France and Britain — need to agree on ​a candidate. When Guterres was chosen in ​2016, ⁠it took six straw polls for the Security Council to reach agreement.

The UN Security Council will eventually formally ⁠recommend ​a candidate to the 193-member General ​Assembly for election. Approval by the assembly has long been seen ​as a rubber stamp.