Story perspectives

Guyana’s UN candidate wins 8 votes in straw poll

8/23/2026

Summary

Rodrigues Birkett Leads

Guyana Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett received eight encourage votes in the UN Security Council’s second straw poll.
Denmark’s UN ambassador Christina Markus Lassen, Council president for August, announced the poll had concluded.
Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan earned seven encourage votes, one fewer than Birkett.
Argentina’s Rafael Grossi received seven encourage votes and six discourage votes.

Summary

Nebenzia Warns Deadlock

The straw-poll system was created in the early 1980s to resolve veto-induced deadlocks.
Several member states have criticized the process as overly opaque and lacking transparency.
UN tradition expects the secretary-general seat to rotate among regions, favoring a Latin American candidate this cycle.
Russia’s UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia warned a deadlock could prompt additional candidates.
Candidates receiving no encouragement votes, such as Ivonne A-Baki, may withdraw after the poll.

History

Historical Context

In December 1981 the Security Council, led by President Olara Otunnu, broke a 16-round deadlock by introducing secret straw polls; Javier Pérez de Cuéllar secured the required nine votes and became the first Latin American Secretary-General. The same straw-poll mechanism guides the 2026 race, where candidates such as Rebeca Grynspan and Rafael Grossi are tallying encourage votes amid regional rotation expectations.

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Rodrigues Birkett Leads

Guyana Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett received eight encourage votes in the UN Security Council’s second straw poll.
Denmark’s UN ambassador Christina Markus Lassen, Council president for August, announced the poll had concluded.
Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan earned seven encourage votes, one fewer than Birkett.
Argentina’s Rafael Grossi received seven encourage votes and six discourage votes.

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