UN Secretary-General Poll: Argentine Grossi Ranks Third as Women Lead Informal Vote

An informal straw poll among UN Security Council members has revealed a potential shift in the race to succeed António Guterres as the next Secretary-General. The poll, held on July 30, saw Argentine diplomat Rafael Grossi, currently the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, placed in third position.

Leading the informal vote was Costa Rican economist Rebeca Grynspan, who currently serves as the Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Grynspan was recognized for her role in negotiating the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allowed Ukraine to export grain during the height of its conflict with Russia. Following Grynspan was Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana's Permanent Representative to the UN.

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It is time for women.

This informal vote, reported by the US-based outlet PassBlue, signals a potential move towards a female leader for the United Nations, a change that could break an 80-year precedent. "It is time for women," stated Mexico's UN representative Peter Thomas Muñoz Ledo on July 29.

A former Argentine diplomat, speaking anonymously to Argentina Reports, described the poll as the first "political snapshot" of a contest where gender is increasingly influencing the debate. The Security Council is scheduled to hold a second preliminary vote on August 21 to continue the selection process. Guterres' term ends in December. The current field of seven official candidates includes Michelle Bachelet of Chile, María Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, Macky Sall of Senegal, and Olara Otunnu of Uganda. Despite the unwritten rule of regional rotation suggesting a Latin American candidate, gender dynamics appear to be gaining prominence in the selection process.

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Although there is still a lot to do in the process, the result speaks for itself: it is time for women.