Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett Leads UN Secretary-General Straw Poll
- Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, has taken the lead in the informal race to succeed António Guterres as the next UN Secretary-General, according...
- Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett is among eight candidates currently vying for the top diplomatic post at the United Nations.
- Following closely behind the Guyanese diplomat is former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan, who topped the initial straw poll conducted by the council.
Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, has taken the lead in the informal race to succeed António Guterres as the next UN Secretary-General, according to the second straw poll conducted by the UN Security Council. Eight council members encouraged her appointment, three discouraged it, and four registered no opinion in the latest ballot.
Latin American Contenders Lead the Field
Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett is among eight candidates currently vying for the top diplomatic post at the United Nations. The informal straw polls are utilized by the Security Council to evaluate the viability of candidates seeking to head the international organization.
Following closely behind the Guyanese diplomat is former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan, who topped the initial straw poll conducted by the council. In the latest informal ballot, seven Security Council members supported Grynspan’s appointment, while four opposed it and four held no opinion.
A Diverse Pool of Global Candidates
The two Latin American and Caribbean candidates have emerged at the front of a diverse field that includes diplomats and former officials from across multiple regions.
Security Council Experience as a Diplomatic Edge
During a recent interview with Mark Leon Goldberg on the Global Dispatches podcast, Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett emphasized that her prior experience serving on the UN Security Council prepared her to advance discussions and break gridlocks. She argued that the Secretary-General holds a unique position to act as a neutral broker among member states when political differences arise.
Throughout her campaign, the ambassador has met with members of the Security Council to answer questions and present her vision for the future of the United Nations.
The Road Ahead to the Final Face-Off
The candidates are continuing their outreach and dialogues with global leaders as the selection process moves forward. The formal face-off among the contenders for the UN leadership position is expected to take place at the end of the year.