Selection for next UN chief gets underway with first ‘straw poll’

United Nations Security Council started the process on Thursday to pick its new secretary general as successor to Antonio Guterres

While the winning candidate requires nine votes to secure the position, they must avoid a veto, which ultimately means none of the council’s five permanent members must vote against them.

All five permanent members have the right of veto. If one does not fully agree with a proposed person but does not wish to cast a veto, it may choose to abstain.

The four women and three men currently in the running for Guterres’ replacement are Michelle Bachelet of Chile, Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, Rafael Grossi of Argentina, Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, Olara Otunnu of Uganda, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana and Macky Sall of Senegal.