Story perspectives

Guyana Ambassador Leads UN Security Council Straw Poll

8/22/2026

Summary

Story summary

Guyana Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett led the UN Security Council’s second straw poll with eight “encourage” votes.
Rebeca Grynspan (Costa Rica) and Rafael Grossi (Argentina) each received seven “encourage” votes.
Rodrigues-Birkett had three “discourage” votes, Grynspan four, and Grossi six.
A formal recommendation requires at least nine votes and no veto from the five permanent members.
The secret poll’s results stay confidential; later rounds will colour-code permanent members’ ballots to reveal possible vetoes.

History

Historical Context

In 1991 the Security Council first used secret straw polls to gauge support for secretary-general candidates after earlier deadlocks. The practice was codified in the 1996 Wisnumurti Guidelines, which mark permanent-member ballots in red to reveal possible vetoes. The 2026 poll shows Guyana’s ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett leading with eight encourage votes, echoing the same veto-sensitive process.

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Story summary

Guyana Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett led the UN Security Council’s second straw poll with eight “encourage” votes.
Rebeca Grynspan (Costa Rica) and Rafael Grossi (Argentina) each received seven “encourage” votes.
Rodrigues-Birkett had three “discourage” votes, Grynspan four, and Grossi six.
A formal recommendation requires at least nine votes and no veto from the five permanent members.
The secret poll’s results stay confidential; later rounds will colour-code permanent members’ ballots to reveal possible vetoes.

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