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The United Nations Security Council is set to hold its first informal secret ballot on Thursday as part of the process to select the organisation’s next secretary-general.
Known as a “straw poll”, the vote will assess the level of support among member states for the seven candidates currently competing for the world body’s top post.
The current UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who has served two consecutive five-year terms, will complete his tenure at the end of December this year. Several candidates from Latin America and Africa are considered strong contenders to succeed the Portuguese diplomat.
The nominees currently in the race are from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, Senegal, and Uganda.
Representatives from the Security Council’s 15 member states will express their views in the confidential vote through three options: “encourage”, “discourage”, or “no opinion”.
The straw poll process is usually conducted through multiple rounds, with the final selection expected around late September or early October.
However, the process could take longer if disagreements emerge among member states or if the council fails to reach a consensus on a single candidate.
The UN secretary-general is formally recommended by the Security Council and appointed by the General Assembly.