UNITED NATIONS: An informal poll by the United Nations Security Council on Friday showed former Costa Rican vice president Rebeca Grynspan extended her lead as frontrunner in the race to become the 10th UN secretary general.

Grynspan got 11 votes in favour and four against on the 15-member council, marking her strongest showing in seven closed-door ballots conducted in recent months to replace Antonio Guterres as he finishes his second five-year term this year.

Whoever wins will have to tackle multiple crises, including several wars, cutbacks in American contributions to the UN, and the 193-member body’s declining political relevance as Washington has pulled out of dozens of its agencies.

Securing the council’s recommendation requires at least nine positive votes and no “discourage” votes from the five permanent members France, Britain, the US, Russia and China.

Friday’s ballot was not coded in a way that would allow deciphering of how the “P5” voted.

Friday also marked the first poll since United Arab Emirates diplomat Lana Nusseibeh entered the race, but the Middle Eastern contender and former ambassador to the UN received seven votes in favour, six against and two marked as “no opinion”.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2026