Six candidates are applying for the post of UN Secretary-General

Six candidates are applying for the post of UN Secretary-General. This is reported by AFP.

Voting has started at the UN to elect a new Secretary-General, who will replace Antonio Guterres after he leaves office on December 31. So far, six candidates are fighting for this post.

Among them are the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, former President of Senegal Macky Sall, Secretary General of UNCTAD Rebecca Greenspan, former President of the UN General Assembly Maria Fernanda Espinosa and Permanent Representative of Guyana to the UN Caroline Rodriguez Birkett.

The first vote to elect a new UN Secretary-General is scheduled for July 30, 2026. This will be a closed consultative vote in The UN Security Council, also known as the "straw poll".

After the first round, if none of the candidates receives the necessary support, subsequent rounds of the same consultative voting will be held. This process can take several weeks or even months, as was the case in 2016, when it took six rounds. Voting will continue until a candidate is found who will suit all permanent members of the Security Council (Russia, USA, China, Great Britain, France) and will get at least 9 votes out of 15.

After the Security Council selects a candidate, his name will be submitted to the UN General Assembly for approval. This is usually considered a formal procedure. The inauguration of the new Secretary General is scheduled for January 1, 2027.