Less than three months before UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres's term expires, the Security Council has not decided who will succeed him, and the rules offer little guidance on what happens if the panel cannot agree on an applicant.Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica led the fourth straw poll last month with 10 “encourage” votes, three “discourage” votes and two “no opinions", but she remains short of a clear consensus. A candidate needs at least nine votes in the 15-member Council and must avoid a veto from any of the five permanent members.The Security Council is expected to conduct a fifth secret straw poll on Wednesday morning. The Council has not yet moved to a colour-coded ballot, which would reveal whether any of the five veto-wielding members had voted against a candidate.Ben Cohen, who focuses on international organisations at the Foundation for the Defence of Democracies, said Ms Grynspan was unlikely to be Washington’s first choice. But she could emerge as a compromise candidate if the five permanent members of the Security Council reject the other leading contenders and agree that they could accept her, he said.The selection carries particular significance this year. In its 81-year history, the UN has never been led by a woman, and several women are among the candidates seeking the post.Should none of the publicly named contenders have a veto-proof way forward in the...
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