Former Portuguese Prime Minister António Guterres appears one step closer to becoming the next United Nations Secretary-General, following the results of the fifth closed-door “straw poll” conducted by the Security Council Monday.
Guterres, also known for his role as the former U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, received the most “encourage” votes out of the nine remaining candidates. Guterres has now led each of the five straw polls, but even with broad support he and the other candidates will have to survive the veto power held by the Security Council’s five permanent members — Russia, the United Kingdom, China, the United States and France.
Miroslav Lajcak, Slovakia’s minister of foreign affairs, has consistently placed close behind Guterres, along with Serbian diplomat Vuk Jeremic, who received one less “discourage” vote than Lajcak in this latest straw poll.
About the author
Amy Liebermanamylieberman
Amy Lieberman is the U.N. Correspondent for Devex. She covers the United Nations and reports on global development and politics. Amy previously worked as a freelance reporter, covering the environment, human rights, immigration, and health across the U.S. and in more than 10 countries, including Colombia, Mexico, Nepal, and Cambodia. Her coverage has appeared in the Guardian, the Atlantic, Slate, and the Los Angeles Times. A native New Yorker, Amy received her master’s degree in politics and government from Columbia’s School of Journalism.
