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Sinirlioğlu gets 3 favorable votes in first UNSC straw poll before General Assembly
Feridun Sinirlioğlu, Türkiye’s candidate for UN secretary-general, received 3 favorable and 8 unfavorable votes in the Security Council’s informal straw poll on November 5. Sinirlioğlu will answer questions from member states at the UN General Assembly on November 6.
Feridun Sinirlioğlu, Türkiye’s candidate for UN secretary-general, received 3 favorable votes in the UN Security Council’s (UNSC) informal straw poll on November 5. Eight of the Council’s 15 members cast “discouraging” votes, while 4 members expressed no view.
The vote, held behind closed doors, was the first round in which Sinirlioğlu’s name appeared on the ballot. Türkiye formally nominated Sinirlioğlu, who serves as secretary-general of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), on October 30.
The results of the straw poll are not officially announced. PassBlue and The National reported the vote distribution, citing diplomatic sources at the UN. Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes, Latvia’s permanent representative to the UN and the Council’s president for November, confirmed that the vote had taken place but did not disclose the results.
Votes of permanent members unknown
No color-coded ballots were used in this round. It is therefore unclear whether the unfavorable votes came from the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom and France, which hold veto power, or from elected members. Greece is also among the Council’s elected members this term.
Al-Monitor reported that Pakistan and Somalia, which have close relations with Türkiye, may have been among the elected members supporting Sinirlioğlu.
Grynspan leads the race
Costa Rica’s candidate, Rebeca Grynspan, received the most support in the straw poll. Grynspan received 12 favorable and 3 unfavorable votes, increasing her support from 11 favorable votes in the October 30 round.
Rafael Grossi of Argentina, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), received 9 favorable votes; Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett received 8; and Lana Nusseibeh, the United Arab Emirates’ candidate, received 7. Uganda’s Olara Otunnu received 4 favorable votes, Ecuador’s Maria Fernanda Espinosa received 3, and Ivonne A-Baki received 1.
To be elected secretary-general, a candidate must receive at least 9 favorable votes in the Council’s formal vote and avoid a veto from any permanent member. The 193-member UN General Assembly will appoint the candidate recommended by the Council.
General Assembly and Council meetings next
Sinirlioğlu will participate in an interactive dialogue session at the UN General Assembly on November 6, where he will answer questions from member states. He is also scheduled to hold a closed-door, informal meeting with UNSC members on November 9.
The date of the next straw poll has not yet been set. Antonio Guterres’s term ends on December 31, and the new secretary-general will take office on January 1, 2027.
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