The UN Security Council held a preliminary vote for the 5th time on the candidate to replace Guterres.

In the informal preliminary voting called "straw poll" held in the form of a closed meeting, 15 council members expressed their opinions about the candidates.

UNSC Term President Greece's Permanent Representative to the UN, Aglaia Balta, said in a statement to the press after the preliminary voting: "Each candidate will learn the results through the permanent representatives of the member states that nominated the relevant candidate. The President of the General Assembly will also be informed that the preliminary poll has been held." he said.

Balta did not give any information about when the next preliminary poll would be held.

According to the first information leaked from diplomatic sources, in today's voting, Costa Rican Rebeca Grynspan finished ahead in the preliminary poll with 9 "in favor" and 6 "against" votes.

Grynspan was followed by Rafael Grossi with 6 "in favour", 7 "against" and 2 "abstentions", while Carolyn Rodrigues ranked 3rd with 5 "in favour", 9 "against" and 1 "abstention".

Other candidates Macky Sall received 5 votes "in favour", 10 "against", Olara Otunnu 3 "in favour", 12 "against", Maria Fernanda Espinosa 3 "in favour", 9 "against", 3 "abstains" and Ivonne Baki received 0 "in favour", 14 "against" and 1 "abstain".

Preliminary polling at the UNSC

In the secret and unofficial preliminary polling at the UNSC, Council members mark one of the "for", "against" and "abstain" options on the ballot paper for each candidate.

The advance vote serves as a test vote to gauge support for candidates vying to become the next UN Secretary-General.

In these votes, since all 5 permanent members with veto power use the same ballot and the election is held secretly, each vote has the same importance.

However, after certain rounds, the UNSC starts using "color coded" ballot papers. "Red" ballot papers are being used for 5 permanent members, and "white" ballot papers are being used for 10 elected members. Since the 5 permanent members have veto power over the candidates, the chances of candidates receiving "red" votes decrease in the race.

Diplomatic sources state that the 6th round of preliminary polling, planned to be held on October 16, may be color coded.

Race for nomination for new UN Secretary-General

Seven candidates are currently competing to replace UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who will leave office on December 31.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director Rafael Grossi, former Senegalese President Macky Sall, UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan, who took leave from her job to run for candidacy, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, who served as President of the UN General Assembly in 2018-2019, Guyana's Permanent Representative to the UN, Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett, Olara Otunnu, who served as Uganda's Permanent Representative to the UN in the 1980s, and The latest entry into the race is Ecuadorian politician and diplomat Ivonne Baki, who is running for the post of UN Secretary-General.

In the closed sessions to be held in the 15-member UNSC, the candidate who receives at least 9 "yes" votes and is not vetoed by the permanent members USA, Russia, China, England and France will be submitted to the approval of the UN General Assembly.

Although the UN Charter does not explicitly prohibit the Council from proposing more than one name, it is a long-standing practice that the UNSC is expected to agree on a candidate and recommend it to the General Assembly.

While it is thought that it will take some time for UNSC members to agree on a single candidate, the new secretary general is expected to be determined by December at the latest.

The candidate, who received the approval of the majority in the 193-member General Assembly, will begin his new duty as UN Secretary-General for 5 years on January 1, 2027.

The term of office of Portuguese citizen Antonio Guterres, who has been the UN Secretary General for two terms since 2016, ends on December 31.