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Secret votes and vetoes: How will the next UN chief be picked?
The UN Security Council is beginning a series of secret straw polls to choose the next secretary-general, who is due to take office after António Guterres steps down on 31 December. The process matters because, in practice, the five permanent members’ veto power gives them decisive influence over who leads the UN, despite the General Assembly’s formal role in approving the nominee.
Eight candidates are in the contest, including Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi and the UAE’s Lana Nusseibeh. The 15-member Security Council must recommend a candidate with at least nine votes and no veto from China, France, Russia, the UK or the US; the General Assembly then votes on the recommendation. Straw polls record whether members encourage, discourage or have no opinion about candidates, with later coloured ballots helping distinguish permanent members’ votes, though the process remains largely secret.
In short
- The Security Council is using secret polls to select the next UN chief.
- Eight candidates are competing for the role.
- Any of the five permanent members can block a nominee.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Keeping the decisive choice with the Security Council, including its permanent members, reflects the UN’s founding structure and may help secure a secretary-general whom the major powers will accept and work with. Secret straw polls can also give governments room to assess candidates candidly and negotiate without turning each early preference into a public confrontation.
The case against
The permanent members’ vetoes give five states exceptional influence over a role meant to serve the whole UN membership, while secrecy makes it difficult to scrutinise how candidates are assessed or whose interests shape the outcome. A more transparent process with a stronger General Assembly role could better reflect the organisation’s broader membership and strengthen confidence in the appointment.
Explained simply
The United Nations is an organisation where countries work together on issues such as peace and security. Its secretary-general is the organisation’s chief official, serving as its public representative and leading its staff. António Guterres is due to leave the post at the end of 2026.
The Security Council has 15 members, including five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the UK and the US. It recommends a candidate, and the General Assembly, where all UN member states are represented, formally appoints the secretary-general. The post matters because its holder can bring international issues to attention and help coordinate the UN’s work.
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