Story perspectives

South Africa Backs Grynspan, Leads UN SG Straw Poll

8/9/2026

Summary

Story summary

South Africa announced support for Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan as its preferred UN Secretary-General candidate, citing regional rotation and the aim for the first female Secretary-General.
In the 30 July Security Council straw poll, Grynspan received 10 encourage votes, four no-opinion votes and one discourage vote, ahead of Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett.
Denmark scheduled a second informal poll for 21 August and expects the selection to finish by October.

History

Historical Context

Straw polls, created by the 1996 Wisnumurti Guidelines, shape UN secretary-general picks. A 1997 resolution urged gender balance, yet no woman has held the role. In 2016 the council’s first poll with female candidates gave Amina Mohamed and Irina Bokova five encourage votes each, and Ban Ki-moon increased women in posts. Today South Africa backs Rebeca Grynspan, who earned ten encourage votes, reviving female-leadership push.

1 of 2

Story summary

South Africa announced support for Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan as its preferred UN Secretary-General candidate, citing regional rotation and the aim for the first female Secretary-General.
In the 30 July Security Council straw poll, Grynspan received 10 encourage votes, four no-opinion votes and one discourage vote, ahead of Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett.
Denmark scheduled a second informal poll for 21 August and expects the selection to finish by October.

1 / 2