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Denmark's ambassador to the UN, Christina Markus Lassen, whose country holds the UN Security Council presidency for August, announced on Monday that the council is "aiming for and hoping to schedule" a second informal poll for August 21 as ​the body selects the next UN secretary-general.

Denmark's ambassador to the UN, Christina Markus Lassen, whose country holds the UN Security Council presidency for August, announced on Monday that the council is "aiming for and hoping to schedule" a second informal poll for August 21 as ​the body selects the next UN secretary-general.

The Security Council previously held its first straw poll on July 30, with former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan emerging as the early frontrunner, receiving 10 "encourage" votes among the 15 council members.

The Security Council previously held its first straw poll on July 30, with former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan emerging as the early frontrunner, receiving 10 "encourage" votes among the 15 council members.

Grynspan was followed by former Guyanese Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, who received nine "encourage" votes, and Argentina's Rafael Grossi, head of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency, who secured seven, finishing third.

Grynspan was followed by former Guyanese Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, who received nine "encourage" votes, and Argentina's Rafael Grossi, head of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency, who secured seven, finishing third.

In the next round of voting, Lassen said color-coded ballots, which reveal whether a permanent member has cast a "discourage" vote, would not necessarily be used, stating that they are typically reserved for when the council is close to selecting a final candidate before adding, "I'm not sure we're there yet."

In the next round of voting, Lassen said color-coded ballots, which reveal whether a permanent member has cast a "discourage" vote, would not necessarily be used, stating that they are typically reserved for when the council is close to selecting a final candidate before adding, "I'm not sure we're there yet."

Historical precedent suggests that the polling process could continue through the summer before concluding in September or October. In the past, however, it has taken the Security Council as late as December before making a recommendation.

Historical precedent suggests that the polling process could continue through the summer before concluding in September or October. In the past, however, it has taken the Security Council as late as December before making a recommendation.

The incumbent secretary-general, António Guterres, was first elected to the position in 2016 and took office on January 1, 2017. He was later reappointed for a second term in 2021 and is due to step down at the end of the year.

The incumbent secretary-general, António Guterres, was first elected to the position in 2016 and took office on January 1, 2017. He was later reappointed for a second term in 2021 and is due to step down at the end of the year.

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The UN Security Council held its first informal straw poll on July 30, with former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan emerging as the early frontrunner, receiving 10 "encourage" votes among the 15 council members.

The UN Security Council held its first informal straw poll on July 30, with former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan emerging as the early frontrunner, receiving 10 "encourage" votes among the 15 council members.

Grynspan was followed by former Guyanese Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, who received nine "encourage" votes, and Argentina's Rafael Grossi, head of the UN nuclear watchdog, who secured seven, placing third.

Grynspan was followed by former Guyanese Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, who received nine "encourage" votes, and Argentina's Rafael Grossi, head of the UN nuclear watchdog, who secured seven, placing third.

Denmark's UN Ambassador Christina Markus Lassen, whose country holds the Security Council presidency for August, said the council is "aiming for and hoping to schedule" a second straw poll on Aug. 21.

Denmark's UN Ambassador Christina Markus Lassen, whose country holds the Security Council presidency for August, said the council is "aiming for and hoping to schedule" a second straw poll on Aug. 21.

Lassen said color-coded ballots, which reveal whether a permanent member has cast a "discourage" vote, would not necessarily be used in the next round, adding, "I'm not sure we're there yet."

Lassen said color-coded ballots, which reveal whether a permanent member has cast a "discourage" vote, would not necessarily be used in the next round, adding, "I'm not sure we're there yet."

Precedent suggests the polling process could continue through the summer and conclude in late September or early October, though it could extend further if no consensus candidate emerges.

Precedent suggests the polling process could continue through the summer and conclude in late September or early October, though it could extend further if no consensus candidate emerges.

António Guterres, who took office on Jan. 1, 2017, and was reappointed for a second term in 2021, is set to step down at the end of 2026. The selection process was formally initiated by a joint letter published Nov. 25, 2025.

António Guterres, who took office on Jan. 1, 2017, and was reappointed for a second term in 2021, is set to step down at the end of 2026. The selection process was formally initiated by a joint letter published Nov. 25, 2025.

The 2026 UN Secretary-General race is a defining moment for multilateralism, and the selection process has never been more transparent or consequential. The next leader must serve as a genuine moral anchor with the courage to speak truth to power, not just a diplomatic placeholder beholden to the P5. Getting this right matters enormously — a weak or compromised Secretary-General leaves the UN unable to fulfill its core purpose of preventing war.

The 2026 UN Secretary-General race is a defining moment for multilateralism, and the selection process has never been more transparent or consequential. The next leader must serve as a genuine moral anchor with the courage to speak truth to power, not just a diplomatic placeholder beholden to the P5. Getting this right matters enormously — a weak or compromised Secretary-General leaves the UN unable to fulfill its core purpose of preventing war.

No matter who wins the Secretary-General race, the job is functionally broken — great powers no longer agree on what the UN is even for, making bold leadership nearly impossible. The public interview process is pure theater, rewarding vague platitudes over honest answers, and the Security Council still makes the real call. The Secretary-General's actual job is chief administrator, and inflated expectations about moral authority just set every candidate up to fail.

No matter who wins the Secretary-General race, the job is functionally broken — great powers no longer agree on what the UN is even for, making bold leadership nearly impossible. The public interview process is pure theater, rewarding vague platitudes over honest answers, and the Security Council still makes the real call. The Secretary-General's actual job is chief administrator, and inflated expectations about moral authority just set every candidate up to fail.

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The 2026 UN secretary-general race is a defining moment for multilateralism, and the selection process has never been more transparent or consequential. The next leader must serve as a genuine moral anchor with the courage to speak truth to power, not just a diplomatic placeholder beholden to the P5. Getting this right matters enormously, as a weak or compromised secretary-general leaves the UN unable to fulfill its core purpose of preventing war.

The 2026 UN secretary-general race is a defining moment for multilateralism, and the selection process has never been more transparent or consequential. The next leader must serve as a genuine moral anchor with the courage to speak truth to power, not just a diplomatic placeholder beholden to the P5. Getting this right matters enormously, as a weak or compromised secretary-general leaves the UN unable to fulfill its core purpose of preventing war.

No matter who wins the secretary-general race, the position is functionally broken. Great powers no longer even agree on what the UN is for, making bold leadership nearly impossible. The public interview process, meanwhile, is pure theatre, rewarding vague platitudes over honest answers, while the Security Council still makes the real call. The actual job is chief administrator, and inflated expectations about moral authority just set candidates up to fail.

No matter who wins the secretary-general race, the position is functionally broken. Great powers no longer even agree on what the UN is for, making bold leadership nearly impossible. The public interview process, meanwhile, is pure theatre, rewarding vague platitudes over honest answers, while the Security Council still makes the real call. The actual job is chief administrator, and inflated expectations about moral authority just set candidates up to fail.

UN Security Council Targeting August 21 for Second Secretary-General Poll

DenmarkUN targetsSecurity Council Targeting August 21 for secondSecond SecuritySecretary-General Council UN chief pollPoll

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UN Security Council Targeting August 21 for Second Secretary-General Poll

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