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THE UNITED NATIONS, United States: Rebeca Grynspan narrowly topped the third indicative poll of the UN\u2019s most powerful body, the Security Council, on Friday as it chooses the embattled organization\u2019s next leader, according to a diplomatic source.<\/p>\n
Grynspan \u2014 Costa Rica\u2019s former vice president who has taken leave from her post at the UN trade and development body (UNCTAD) to campaign for secretary-general \u2014 also came top in the first secret straw poll.<\/p>\n
Guyanese ex-foreign minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett pulled ahead in the second reckoning of the 15-member Council.<\/p>\n
Several council members have declared their desire for the embattled UN to have its first woman leader when Secretary-General Antonio Guterres concludes his term at the end of December.<\/p>\n
Grynspan won nine \u201cencourage\u201d votes, but still faced a groundswell of opposition receiving five votes of \u201cdiscourage,\u201d and one of \u201cno opinion,\u201d the diplomatic source said, confirming specialist media reports.<\/p>\n
Just one vote of \u201cdiscourage\u201d from a veto-holding permanent member of the Council \u2014 Britain, China, France, Russia or the United States \u2014 would scupper a candidate\u2019s chances.<\/p>\n
Rodrigues-Birkett received eight votes of encouragement, six of discouragement and single vote of no opinion, the source added, declining to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.<\/p>\n
Also in the race are the current head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, Macky Sall of Senegal, Ecuador\u2019s Ivonne A-Baki, Chile\u2019s Michelle Bachelet, Ecuador\u2019s Maria Fernanda Espinosa and Uganda\u2019s Olara Otunnu.<\/p>\n
There is speculation that a compromise candidate could be parachuted into the process at the behest of the Council\u2019s powerful five permanent members.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf that happens in a way that\u2019s not transparent… then we have a problem,\u201d said one diplomat who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.<\/p>\n
Once a candidate clears the Security Council\u2019s hurdles, their name will go to the General Assembly of all UN members for confirmation.<\/p>\n
Without singling out a favorite, a US State Department official said Thursday that candidates must get the UN \u201cback to basics and publicly commit to the changes we require.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAny new secretary-general must return the UN to its primary purpose of maintaining peace and security in the world, rather than the absurd, politicized, woke ideology that has undermined the institution\u2019s effectiveness,\u201d the official said.<\/p>\n
After an unspecified number of votes, the ballots of the Council\u2019s five permanent members will have a different color, making it possible to identify potential vetoes, without knowing which country blackballed any given candidate.<\/p>\n
International Crisis Group\u2019s Daniel Forti said it was thought there would be another straw poll at the end of the UN\u2019s signature high-level week due to get underway Tuesday, though that is unconfirmed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n