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Rebeca Grynspan Regains Lead in Security Council Straw Poll

By Drooid · Sep 21, 2026, 11:07 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan regained the lead with nine “encourage” votes in the Security Council’s third straw poll.
Guyana's Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett earned eight “encourage” votes but received six “discourage” votes.
Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet withdrew after receiving one “encourage” and eleven “discourage” votes.
A candidate must secure nine Council votes and avoid any permanent-member veto to be elected.

History

Historical Context

The 1945 UN Charter created a 15-member Security Council with five permanent members and, after a 1965 amendment, ten rotating non-permanent seats that require a two-thirds (nine-vote) majority and no P5 veto. Today’s straw poll sees Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan, Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Chile’s Michelle Bachelet competing for those nine votes, echoing the original voting rule.

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Story summary

Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan regained the lead with nine “encourage” votes in the Security Council’s third straw poll.
Guyana's Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett earned eight “encourage” votes but received six “discourage” votes.
Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet withdrew after receiving one “encourage” and eleven “discourage” votes.
A candidate must secure nine Council votes and avoid any permanent-member veto to be elected.

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