# Rebecca Grynspan leads first UNSC straw poll for secretary-general 2026-08-08T20:03:58+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet UNCTAD chief Rebecca Grynspan topped the first informal Security Council straw poll to become the next UN secretary-general, a civil society group reported. The former Costa Rican vice-president received 10 positive votes, one negative and four neutral. Former Guyana foreign minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett surprised with second place: nine positive, two negative, four neutral. The 15 Council members use secret ballots with 'encourage', 'discourage' and 'no opinion' options. Permanent members get colour-coded ballots in later rounds to reveal potential vetos. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi and ex-Chile president Michelle Bachelet followed, but both have drawn opposition from the US or Russia. Seven candidates are in the race, with straw polls continuing until one emerges with consensus from the five permanent powers. ## Coverage - thehansindia.com Tags: Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Rebecca Grynspan, Secretary-General, straw poll, UN, United Nations Security Council Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/rebecca-grynspan-leads-first-unsc-straw-poll-for-secretary-general/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/rebecca-grynspan-leads-first-unsc-straw-poll-for-secretary-general/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.