The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held its first preliminary vote to determine the successor to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose term ends on December 31, 2026. The vote took place in a closed session of the Council.
UNSC President and Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the UN, Zenon Mukongo Ngay, announced after the vote that the results would only be communicated to the representatives of the member states that nominated candidates and to the Presidency of the General Assembly, and would not be shared with the public. Ngay said, 'We want to keep everything confidential. We want transparency and efficiency, we do not want speculation.'
Noting that the Council presidency would end today, Ngay announced that the next preliminary vote would be held during the presidency of Denmark, which will take over the role.
Seven candidates in the race
So far, seven individuals have officially announced their candidacy for the UN Secretary-General post. The candidates are:
- International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi
- Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet
- Former President of Senegal Macky Sall
- Rebeca Grynspan, currently on leave from her position as Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development
- Maria Fernanda Espinosa, who served as President of the UN General Assembly from 2018 to 2019
- Permanent Representative of Guyana to the UN, Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett
- Olara Otunnu, who served as Uganda's Permanent Representative to the UN in the 1980s
In the closed sessions of the 15-member UNSC, a candidate must receive at least nine 'yes' votes and not be vetoed by any of the permanent members—the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France—to move forward. According to long-standing practice, the Council is expected to agree on a single candidate and recommend them to the General Assembly.
It may take time for Council members to reach consensus on a single candidate. The new Secretary-General is expected to be determined as early as September or as late as December 2026. The candidate who secures majority approval in the 193-member General Assembly will take office on January 1, 2027.
Portuguese national Antonio Guterres has been serving as UN Secretary-General for two terms since 2016. His term will end on December 31, 2026.
Maria Nica / Editor
