A third straw poll today for the post of UN Secretary General has put former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan as marginally ahead of Guyana’s former foreign minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett.
Grynspan secured 9 encourage votes from the 15-member United Nations Security Council while Rodrigues-Birkett secured 8.
In the first round on July 30, Grynspan had come out ahead of Rodrigues-Birkett with 10 encourage votes compared to nine for the Guyanese diplomat. At the second round of voting on August 21, Rodrigues-Birkett edged ahead of Grynspan 8 to 7 in what is shaping up to be a close contest.
Intense lobbying of UN Security Council members is likely when Guyana’s delegation turns up in New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly. President Irfaan Ali will head the delegation.
At today’s straw poll, there was no difference between the ballots used by the five permanent members (P5) and the ten elected members (E10). Council members receive one ballot per candidate, containing the candidate’s name followed by three options: “encouraged”, “discouraged”, and “no opinion expressed”.
The candidates voted on were:
- Ivonne A-Baki (Ecuador), who was nominated by Tonga on 17 August;
- Michelle Bachelet Jeria (Chile), who was nominated by Brazil, Chile, and Mexico on 2 February, with Chile withdrawing its nomination on 24 March;
- María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés (Ecuador), who was nominated by Antigua and Barbuda on 11 May;
- Rafael Mariano Grossi (Argentina), who was nominated by Argentina on 26 November 2025;
- Rebeca Grynspan Mayufis (Costa Rica), who was nominated by Costa Rica on 3 March;
- Olara Otunnu (Uganda), who was nominated by Uganda on 24 July;
- Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett (Guyana), who was nominated by Guyana on 15 June; and
• • Macky Sall (Senegal), who was nominated by Burundi on 2 March.
A vote against a candidate by a P5 member in a future round of voting would end a nomination.
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