Rebeca Grynspan, the former vice-president of Costa Rica , emerged as an early front runner to be the next United Nations secretary general on Thursday, as the Security Council began the selection process, with a first “straw poll” held behind closed doors to evaluate support for candidates vying for the role at the embattled world body. Antonio Guterres , the current UN chief, is set to complete his second five-year term on the final day of 2026, leaving the high-profile role open for a new leader whose first day would be January 1, 2027. The four women and three men currently in the running for Guterres’ replacement are Grynspan, Michelle Bachelet of Chile , Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, Rafael Grossi of Argentina , Olara Otunnu of Uganda, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana and Macky Sall of Senegal. Grynspan received 10 votes in her favour while former Guyanese foreign minister Rodrigues-Birkett came in second with nine votes and Grossi, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog, received seven. 01:40 ‘Climate time bomb ticking’: UN chief says carbon emissions must be urgently cut