As Antonio Guterres prepares to step down from his role as UN Secretary-General on December 31, the world is looking ahead to who will lead the organization next. Currently, six candidates are vying for the position, with Costa Rican diplomat Louise Fréchette Grynspan standing out as a notable contender. Grynspan, who has already secured 10 ‘encourage’ votes, four ‘no opinion’ votes, and one ‘discourage’ vote, finds herself in a strong position in the race, according to The Guardian.

A Contested Path to Power

The path to becoming UN Secretary-General is a complex one, with the winning candidate selected by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council. The Security Council consists of China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—each of whom holds significant influence over the process; Grynspan’s closest rival is Carolyn Rodrigues-Burkett, Guyana’s former UN envoy, who received nine ‘encourage’ votes, two ‘discourage’ votes, and four ‘no opinion’ votes. The identity of the single ‘discourage’ vote cast against Grynspan remains unknown, though a western diplomat noted that if the objections come from any of the major powers, it could lead to a deadlock.

According to The Guardian, Grynspan has received tacit support from Guterres, who is currently serving his second and final term, as this support may give her an advantage in a process that is expected to conclude in October. However, the legitimacy of multilateralism is under strain, as the UN is currently undergoing 20% job cuts and its role as a mediator is being overshadowed by other global actors.

A Historic Opportunity

If elected, Grynspan would make history as the UN’s first Jewish Secretary-General. Her Jewish heritage has become a central part of her campaign, with Grynspan invoking her family history as a means of emphasizing the importance of peace. Her parents were refugees from World War II, and she told the UN General Assembly, ‘Peace is what made it possible for my parents… to find respect and dignity in a small country, Costa Rica. I am the daughter of this peace, a demonstration of what peace makes possible.’

Grynspan’s sister also migrated to Israel as a 17-year-old to study chemistry at the Hebrew University. The UN has faced criticism for focusing too much on Israel in its debates, but Grynspan has used her personal background to advocate for an end to conflict and a return to the organization’s core mission of promoting global peace.

A Field of Strong Candidates

Michelle Bachelet, the former president of Chile, is also among the candidates for the position; Bachelet, who served as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2018 to 2022, has emphasized the importance of gender representation in the role. She has stated that while she has no ‘magic formula’ to solve the issues facing the Security Council, her experience is a key asset. Bachelet has previously expressed her belief that the world may not have been ‘prepared’ for a female Secretary-General in 2016, but she hopes it is now, according to DW.

As the debate over the future of the UN continues, the stakes are high. The next Secretary-General will inherit a complex and challenging role, tasked with handling a global scene where the organization’s relevance and financial stability are increasingly under scrutiny. The candidates will have the opportunity to present their visions to the General Assembly, with the final decision likely to be made in October.