António Guterres will become the next U.N. secretary-general, following the Security Council’s “remarkably uncontentious and uncontroversial” straw poll Wednesday morning, according to Samantha Power, the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations.
Guterres’ unofficial selection came as a surprise to some campaigners and advocacy groups observing the race — and a disappointment to those who had pushed for a woman to lead the U.N.
Vitaly Churkin, Russia’s U.N. and Security Council president announced the results of the straw poll following the closed door session, with the other 14 members of the UNSC standing beside him.