No candidate for UN secretary-general has the support of all five Security Council permanent members
Radio-Canada and Le Devoir reported on October 17 that no candidate for UN secretary-general has the backing of all five permanent members of the Security Council. Rebeca Grynspan, a former vice-president of Costa Rica, remained in front in the latest straw poll, with nine favourable votes, Radio-Canada reported. Other coverage said Ms. Grynspan, Rafael Grossi and Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett each received two discourage votes from permanent members when colour-coded ballots were used. Seven candidates remain in the race, one report said. A candidate needs nine encourage votes and no veto from a permanent member to be recommended.
Each of the five permanent members can block a candidate, so leading the polls does not guarantee the job. Colour-coded ballots reveal vetoes early so the Council can steer toward a candidate none will block. The outcome decides who leads the UN for the next several years.
Most Canadians will not notice the choice directly, but the UN chief shapes humanitarian and peacekeeping priorities that Canada funds. If you follow diplomacy, the next poll is the signal to watch.
Supporters of the front-runner point to her repeated first-place finishes in the polls and her nine encourage votes.
Observers focusing on the veto point out that no candidate is acceptable to all five permanent members, leaving the door open for new names.
Confirmed: no candidate has support from all five permanent members, and Ms. Grynspan leads. Not confirmed: the final tallies and whether new candidates will enter. Watch for the next straw poll date.
DailyDrop Canada edition No. 14 · Morning · SUN., OCT. 18, 2026