Rebeca Grynspan

The U.N. Security Council conducted a straw poll for seven candidates vying to become the next U.N. Secretary-General. While candidates agree on the U.N.'s indispensable role, they differ on addressing its challenges, with Rebeca Grynspan and others emphasizing institutional renewal and leadership, and others focusing on trust and delivery gaps.

Michelle Bachelet placed fourth in the UN Security Council’s first straw poll for UN Secretary-General, receiving two encourage votes, six discourage votes, and seven no-opinion votes. Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan led with ten votes, according to Reuters.

The UN Security Council conducted its first informal straw poll on July 30, 2026, for the Secretary-General bid. Rebeca Grynspan received 10 encourage votes, 1 discourage vote, and 4 no opinion, while Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana placed second with 9 encourage votes. Seven candidates are vying for the position.

The United Nations faces a limited pool of candidates for the next secretary-general, with only eight nominees and a lack of female representation despite growing calls for a woman to lead. Research highlights the need for more women candidates to address historic imbalances and strengthen leadership during critical global challenges.

The article discusses the nominations for the next UN secretary general, highlighting the candidates' positions on climate change and reviewing past secretaries' efforts, including Ban Ki-moon's role in the Paris Agreement and António Guterres's advocacy.

Rebeca Grynspan, a Jewish Costa Rican, is a candidate for United Nations secretary-general, potentially becoming the first Jewish woman to lead the organization. She has family ties to Israel and previously led a UN office that was critical of Israel.