Despite courting support, only the “no” votes grew... Deadlock over choosing the next UN secretary-general

[The Financial News] The UN Security Council’s (UNSC) closed-door preliminary voting to select the next UN secretary-general has proceeded through five rounds, but the deadlock continues as votes against leading candidates increase.
In the preliminary vote held on the 7th (local time), in which all 15 members of the Security Council participated, Costa Rican Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UNCTAD, maintained her lead with 9 votes in favor and 6 against. Compared with the previous vote, her support fell by one vote, while the number of votes against her doubled.
The second- and third-place candidates, Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana’s ambassador to the UN, also faced strong opposition, with 9 and 7 votes against them, respectively.
Although all seven candidates made an all-out effort to effectively campaign among heads of state and senior officials from around the world, who had gathered in New York for the UN General Assembly High-Level Week at the end of last month, votes against them actually increased in the ballot held shortly afterward.
The preliminary vote is an informal process through which the Security Council narrows the field to a single candidate to recommend to the UN General Assembly, and it is repeated until consensus is reached. A candidate must receive at least 9 votes in favor from the Security Council’s 15 members, and none of the five permanent members (the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia and China) may exercise its veto.
With no clear consensus among the current candidates, there is also speculation that a new candidate with substantive backing from the permanent members could enter the race. Media in the United Kingdom reported, citing UN diplomats, that “several figures, including current and former foreign ministers and people at the level of heads of state, are seriously considering running for UN secretary-general.”
Some have also voiced skepticism about whether a successor can be chosen before the end of the year. Current Secretary-General António Guterres’ term ends this December.
[email protected] Hong Chae-wan Reporter