Guyana’s Rodrigues Birkett leads informal poll in race to be next UN leader
Guyanese Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett has emerged as the frontrunner in the second non-binding straw poll for the next UN Secretary-General. She leads a field of eight candidates, including diplomats from Argentina, Costa Rica, and Senegal, as the council seeks a successor to Antonio Guterres.
Why it matters
The selection of a new UN Secretary-General is a critical geopolitical process that influences global diplomacy and the organization's strategic direction for the next five years.
Eight ‘encourage’ votes put the Guyanese ambassador ahead as the council works towards consensus before current Secretary-General Guterres departs at the end of December.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivers a special address on the climate and energy crises, hosted by Bloomberg Philanthropies [Nicky J Sims/Getty Images] By Al Jazeera Staff , AFP and Reuters Published On 22 Aug 2026 22 Aug 2026 The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) conducted its second non-binding straw poll on Friday in the race to select the next UN secretary-general , with Guyana’s Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett emerging as the frontrunner ahead of seven other declared candidates.
Ambassador Christina Markus Lassen of Denmark, the council’s president for August, confirmed the vote had concluded.
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