Guyana's Diplomat Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett Leads Race to Succeed Guterres

Russia Blocks with "Discourage" Vote

One hurdle remains Russia: According to the information available, Moscow spoke out against the candidate in the second round with a "discourage" vote. In doing so, Russia added a formal objection to the process, but was unable to push Rodrigues Birkett out of the race. How Russia will behave in the following rounds initially remained unclear.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, also received six "discourage" votes in the second straw poll. This suggests that Grossi finds only limited backing in the Council. Other candidates who had been considered in earlier procedures no longer appeared prominently in the available reports.

Germany and France in the Council

Germany and France are among the Western members of the Security Council. The German Foreign Minister, according to diplomatic circles, advocated for broad consultation in preliminary talks. An official statement from the German federal government on the straw polls was not available by evening.

The procedure for electing a new Secretary-General follows a fixed sequence: After informal straw polls, a formal recommendation by the Security Council follows, which is then confirmed by the General Assembly. No specific date for the next steps was given.

What Comes Next

Observers interpret Rodrigues Birkett's lead as a signal that member states are looking to an experienced diplomat from the Global South. Guyana, which is also a member of the Caribbean Community CARICOM, brings experience from earlier UN negotiations, according to the reports.

António Guterres's term as UN Secretary-General expires at the end of next year. Until then, it is considered likely that the Security Council will address a recommendation to the General Assembly. If Rodrigues Birkett holds on to her lead, she would become the first woman from the Caribbean to head the United Nations.