Security Council informal poll puts Grynspan narrowly ahead in UN secretary-general race
In the sixth informal Security Council poll on Friday 16 October, Rebeca Grynspan again led narrowly, but every candidate drew opposition from permanent members, leaving room for new entrants.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2An informal Security Council poll on Friday 16 October placed former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan, 70, as the narrow frontrunner to become the 10th UN secretary-general, according to two people close to the process cited by Reuters. The Straits TimesRC “placed former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan as the narrow frontrunner in the race to become the 10th UN secretary-general” Read at The Straits Times ↗ The NationalN “with Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan still narrowly leading in the race” Read at The National ↗ Right · 1It was the sixth secret ballot, and officials have less than three months to choose a successor to Antonio Guterres, whose term ends on 31 December. The Straits TimesRC “This was the sixth secret ballot organized by council officials, who have less than three months to pick the successor to UN boss Antonio Guterres, whose term ends on December 31.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Mixed · 2Grynspan received nine "encourage", five "discourage" and one "no opinion" vote, with two of the opposing votes coming from permanent members. The Straits TimesRC “Grynspan receiving nine "encourage," five "discourage" and one "no opinion" vote, with two of the five opposing votes coming from the Security Council's permanent members” Read at The Straits Times ↗ The NationalN “securing the minimum nine encouraging votes in the latest round and five discouraging votes, including two from permanent” Read at The National ↗
Mixed · 2Guyana's UN ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett received eight votes in favour and six against, with two opposing votes from permanent members; Rafael Grossi, director general of the UN nuclear watchdog, also received eight in favour and six against. The Straits TimesRC “Birkett received eight votes in favor, six against, and one "no opinion," with two opposing votes from the permanent members.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ The NationalN “Argentina's Rafael Grossi secured eight encouraging votes and six discouraging votes” Read at The National ↗ Mixed · 2Reuters said Grossi's result was near-identical to Birkett's but with one fewer permanent member supporting his bid, whereas The National said both he and Birkett faced opposition from two permanent members. The Straits TimesRC “but with one fewer permanent member supporting his bid” Read at The Straits Times ↗ The NationalN “Both faced opposition from two permanent members.” Read at The National ↗ Mixed · 2Friday's poll was the first to use colour-coded ballots that distinguish the votes of the five permanent members (Britain, China, France, Russia and the US) from those of the 10 elected members, showing whether a veto-wielding power opposes a candidate. The Straits TimesRC “Friday's poll for the first time used color-coded ballots revealing whether a veto power opposes a candidate.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ The NationalN “council members cast colour-coded ballots, distinguishing the votes of the five permanent members” Read at The National ↗
Right · 1No candidate won decisively, since all received two or more opposing votes from permanent members; diplomats and observers said this opens the door to new candidates. Winning the council's recommendation requires at least nine positive votes and no "discourage" votes from the five permanent members. The Straits TimesRC “all candidates received two or more opposing votes from the ultimately decisive five permanent members”“requires at least nine positive votes of the 15 countries and no "discourage" votes from the five permanent members” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Centre · 1The National reported that none of the seven candidates in the poll has withdrawn and no new candidates have entered. Grynspan told Reuters she expected new names to enter after the vote, adding: "The game is not over – we will have to continue working." The NationalN “None of the seven candidates who participated in the October 16 poll has withdrawn, and no new candidates have entered the race.”“"The game is not over – we will have to continue working."” Read at The National ↗ Centre · 1Panama's president, Jose Mulino, said before the vote that his country, a non-permanent council member, would vote for Grossi. The NationalN “Panama’s vote would go for Mr Grossi.” Read at The National ↗
Centre · 1US ambassador Mike Waltz said Washington wants leadership that takes the UN "back to basics", played down regional rotation and gender in favour of "the best candidate", and said he thinks the council can finish before year's end. The NationalN “"We think that this institution needs strong, energetic leadership that is going to take the United Nations back to basics,"”“but we really just need the best candidate,”” Read at The National ↗ Centre · 1Minh-Thu Pham of the Starling Institute, a former adviser to Kofi Annan, called it "a split decision with no P5 convergence", noted that the gap between the top three is now very slim, and cautioned that discourage votes are not vetoes and that time is running short for newcomers. The NationalN ““It seems to be a split decision with no P5 convergence. It means there is a path open for new entrants,””““Compared to previous rounds, differences between the top three are very, very slim now,”” Read at The National ↗ Right · 1Reuters added that the next secretary-general will face several wars, cuts in US contributions and the UN's declining relevance as Washington has withdrawn from dozens of its agencies; four of the last five polls had Grynspan narrowly ahead, with Rodrigues-Birkett topping one in August. The Straits TimesRC “Four of five polls in recent months showed Grynspan, 70, narrowly ahead, with one poll in August placing Guyana's UN ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett in the top spot.”“cutbacks in American contributions to the UN” Read at The Straits Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- The National's own report leads with Grynspan staying ahead while two veto powers oppose her, adding US and expert reaction.
- Emphasis
- Quotes from Waltz and analyst Minh-Thu Pham, Panama's backing for Grossi, and the time pressure on new entrants.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give the 'no opinion' vote counts or the poll history.
- Charged language
- “It could get messy”
- For example
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““A lot of pieces have to fall into place, and we’re running out of time,” she said.” — The National
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Reuters wire copy carried by the Straits Times: a concise report of the poll result and the stakes of the race.
- Emphasis
- Vote tallies, voting rules, the crises facing the next chief, and poll history.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No comment from Grynspan or the US; no mention of Panama's stated support for Grossi or expert analysis.
- For example
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“Whoever wins will have to tackle multiple crises, including several wars, cutbacks in American contributions to the UN” — The Straits Times
What every side reports
- Grynspan narrowly led the sixth informal poll with nine encourage and five discourage votes, two of them from permanent members.
- Grossi and Rodrigues-Birkett each got eight encourage and six discourage votes.
- Friday's poll was the first with colour-coded ballots separating permanent members' votes.
- No candidate has a clear path, leaving room for new entrants.
Where accounts differ
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Permanent-member opposition to Grossi
- Centre
- The National says both Grossi and Rodrigues-Birkett faced opposition from two permanent members.
- Right
- Reuters (via Straits Times) says Grossi's result matched Birkett's but with one fewer permanent member supporting his bid.
Rebeca Grynspan person
Grynspan says she expects new names to enter the race and that the contest is not over.
“"The game is not over – we will have to continue working."” — The National
United Nations Security Council organisation
The council's informal polls are secret ballots; a recommendation needs nine positive votes and no permanent-member 'discourage' votes, and Friday's poll showed no convergence among the five.
“requires at least nine positive votes of the 15 countries and no "discourage" votes from the five permanent members” — The Straits Times
Rafael Grossi person
Grossi is among the top three, with eight encourage votes; Panama's president said his country would vote for him.
“Panama’s vote would go for Mr Grossi.” — The National
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Grynspan stays ahead in sixth UN Secretary General vote, but two veto powers say no
Neutral Results plus US and expert commentary, stressing uncertainty and time pressure.
Right2 articles
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The Straits TimesRC · · via Reuters
Grynspan holds lead for next UN chief as race enters decisive stage
Neutral Reuters wire report focused on tallies, voting rules and the stakes.
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Arab NewsRC · · via Reuters
Costa Rica’s Grynspan holds lead for next UN chief as race enters decisive stage
- 16 Oct 22:50 First The Straits TimesRC Grynspan holds lead for next UN chief as race enters decisive stage via Reuters
- 16 Oct 23:19 +29m The NationalN Grynspan stays ahead in sixth UN Secretary General vote, but two veto powers say no
- 16 Oct 23:57 +1h 7m Arab NewsRC Costa Rica’s Grynspan holds lead for next UN chief as race enters decisive stage via Reuters
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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