No consensus emerged among the five permanent UN Security Council members for a successor to Antonio Guterres, as seven candidates vied for the role with no clear front-runner as of October 16, 2026.
The UN Security Council’s five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US—failed to agree on a candidate to replace Antonio Guterres, whose second term ends December 31, 2026. Four women and three men remain in the race, but none secured unanimous support in a closed-door vote on October 16, 2026, according to reports from Lemonde, France24, and RTS.
Candidates in the Running
Rebeca Grynspan, the former Costa Rican vice president and head of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), led the pack with nine “encourage” votes but also five “décourage” votes, including two from permanent council members. Argentine nuclear agency head Rafael Grossi followed with eight “encourage” votes, while Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, a former Guyanese foreign minister, and Ugandan Olara Otunnu, a former UN special envoy, trailed closely. The race included former Senegalese president Macky Sall and Ecuadorian diplomat Ivonne A-Baki, among others.
If countries wish to present more candidates, it is entirely their sovereign right,
said U.S. UN representative Mike Waltz, signaling Washington’s openness to new nominations. He also emphasized U.S. priorities: Reform peacekeeping operations, budget reform, and greater rigor… reduce bureaucracy and structural costs.
The U.S. stance contrasts with calls for gender diversity, as officials noted that while a female candidate would be welcomed, the best candidate remained the priority.
Rebeca Grynspan, 70, received 9 “encourage,” 5 “décourage,” and 1 without opinion
votes. Rafael Grossi, 65, garnered 8 “encourage,” 6 “décourage,” and 1 without opinion.
Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, 53, received 8 “encourage,” 6 “décourage,” and 1 without opinion.
Olara Otunnu, 76, earned 4 “encourage,” 10 “décourage,” and 1 without opinion.
Other candidates included Macky Sall, 64, with 5 “encourage,” 10 “décourage,” and 0 without opinion
; Maria Fernanda Espinosa, 62, with 3 “encourage,” 9 “décourage,” and 3 without opinion
; and Ivonne A-Baki, 75, with 1 “encourage,” 14 “décourage,” and 0 without opinion.
The process remains open to new entrants, with the five permanent members retaining veto power over final selections.
Challenges Facing the UN
The selection process occurs amid a crisis for the UN, which faces mounting global conflicts, financial strain, and declining multilateral trust.
Historical precedents, like Kofi Annan’s unexpected rise in 1996, remain relevant. A diplomatic source recalled that Kofi Annan wasn’t a candidate and appeared one day before being elected.
This underscores the fluidity of the process, as new entrants could still emerge before the final decision.
The UN’s next secretary-general will face a mandate to address deepening geopolitical divides, financial constraints, and the need for institutional reform—a task described as the most difficult period in its history by one report.
The UN’s financial struggles, exacerbated by reduced voluntary contributions, have also drawn scrutiny, with Guterres stating in September that every day, things worsen a bit.
Reports highlight ongoing tensions over the UN’s role in global governance. The absence of a clear consensus reflects broader geopolitical fragmentation, with no candidate securing universal backing.