UN Security Council prepares straw poll in race to succeed Guterres

The Security Council will hold its first informal straw poll on July 30 to gauge support for candidates vying to become the next UN secretary-general.

• The straw poll, set for July 30, is non-binding but tests each candidate's ability to secure nine votes and avoid a veto from any of the five permanent members.
• Six candidates have entered the race: Rafael Grossi, Macky Sall, Rebecca Greenspan, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, María Fernanda Espinosa, and Michelle Bachelet.
• The selection process requires Council approval of a candidate, who is then confirmed by the General Assembly.
• No woman has held the post of UN secretary-general since the organization's founding.