Follow Al Rai
All candidates for the position of UN Secretary-General faced a "veto" on Friday from one of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, according to a diplomatic source.
At the conclusion of a "straw poll," none of the seven candidates received the approval of the five major powers that hold veto power, which opens the door to the possibility of putting forward new nominations.
So far, four women and three men have run for the position to succeed António Guterres, whose second five-year term ends on December 31, 2026.
The candidates are Chilean Michelle Bachelet, Ecuadorian María Fernanda Espinosa, Costa Rican Rebeca Grynspan, Guyanese Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Argentine Rafael Grossi, Ugandan Olara Otunnu, and Senegalese Macky Sall.
For a candidate to win the vote, they must obtain the support of nine member states of the 15-member Security Council, while also avoiding a veto from any of the five major powers, which are deeply divided in light of the current international situation.
The five permanent members of the Security Council are the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom.
Know more about this story?Send us a tip
Ask about this report — answers stay grounded in its text.
