Eight candidates, including five women, in race for next UN chief

Five women and three men are competing to succeed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as the organisation faces unprecedented global instability, wars and a severe budget crisis. With major powers divided over the candidates, observers say it is difficult to determine who is leading. Costa Rica’s Rebecca Grynspan emerged as the frontrunner in the first informal poll to assess support, AFP reported.

Under UN rules, the 15-member Security Council will select a candidate and recommend them for approval by the General Assembly. The key challenge will be securing at least nine votes while avoiding a veto from any of the five permanent members—the United States, UK, China, France and Russia.

Rebecca Grynspan (Costa Rica): The 70-year-old head of UNCTAD and former vice president of Costa Rica gained praise for helping mediate the Black Sea Grain Initiative following the Ukraine war. She is from a Jewish family whose relatives survived the Holocaust.

Michelle Bachelet (Chile): The 74-year-old former Chilean president and former UN human rights chief faced tensions with China over a report on abuses against Uyghurs. She has also drawn criticism from the US for supporting abortion rights, while Chile withdrew its support. Mexico and Brazil back her.

Maria Fernanda Espinosa (Ecuador): The 61-year-old former General Assembly president has proposed major UN reforms and early-warning mechanisms to prevent conflicts. Antigua and Barbuda supports her, while Ecuador does not.

Rafael Grossi (Argentina): The 65-year-old IAEA chief has played key roles over Iran’s nuclear programme and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant issue in Ukraine.

Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett (Guyana): The 52-year-old former foreign minister and current UN ambassador has focused on restoring the organisation’s credibility.

Ivonne A-Baki (Ecuador): The 75-year-old diplomat, a former ambassador to Washington, was close to Donald Trump. Nominated by Tonga, she has strong ties in Qatar and the Gulf region.

Macky Sall (Senegal): The 64-year-old former Senegalese president is the only candidate from outside Latin America. He has support from the African Union and Senegal but faces allegations of suppressing violent protests at home.

Olara Otunnu (Uganda): The 75-year-old former Ugandan foreign minister and opposition presidential candidate served as UN under-secretary-general for children and armed conflict under Kofi Annan.