Key facts
- Rebeca Grynspan received 11 votes in favor and 4 against in an informal UN Security Council poll.
- The poll was the seventh conducted to select a candidate to replace UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
- Lana Nusseibeh received 7 votes in favor, 6 against, and 2 "no opinion" votes.
An informal poll by the United Nations Security Council on Friday showed former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan extending her lead as frontrunner in the race to become the 10th UN Secretary-General, according to two people close to the process. Grynspan received 11 votes in favor and 4 against in the ballot, her strongest showing in seven closed-door votes conducted in recent months to replace Antonio Guterres, who finishes his second five-year term this year. The winner will face challenges including multiple wars, cutbacks in U.S. contributions to the UN, and the 193-member body's declining political relevance. Securing the council's recommendation requires at least 9 positive votes and no "discourage" votes from the five permanent members: France, Britain, the US, Russia, and China. Friday's ballot did not allow for deciphering how the permanent members voted. United Arab Emirates diplomat Lana Nusseibeh entered the race but received 7 votes in favor, 6 against, and 2 marked as "no opinion."