Costa Rican diplomat emerges as frontrunner to become UN’s first female chief PHOTO

Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan has emerged as a leading contender to become the first woman to serve as secretary-general of the United Nations, after securing the strongest result in an initial confidential Security Council poll.

Grynspan, a former vice-president of Costa Rica and current head of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), received 10 votes in favour, four indicating no opinion and one against, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Her closest rival, Guyana’s former UN ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, received nine votes in favour, two against and four indicating no opinion.

The next secretary general is expected to come from Latin America under an informal regional rotation system. António Guterres is due to complete his second term on 31 December 2026.

“Grynspan is seen by some as the continuity candidate, having the tacit support from Guterres,” said one western diplomat. “But the key is the source of the candidate’s discouragement votes: if [the votes] are coming from Russia, China or the US, there is a risk of deadlock.”

Grynspan’s parents fled Europe after the Holocaust, and she has cited their experience when speaking about the importance of peace.

She told the UN general assembly: “Peace is what made it possible for my parents, two refugees from the second world war, 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.”

If elected, Grynspan would become the UN’s first Jewish secretary general. Under her leadership, UNCTAD has documented the economic impact of Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories, including an estimated $212.2 billion loss to the Palestinian economy between 2000 and 2024.

Former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet is among other candidates but faces opposition from the US government over her record on China’s human rights situation.

The Security Council is expected to hold further consultations, with the aim of selecting a candidate before the end of 2026. The General Assembly must endorse its recommendation, while a candidate needs at least nine Security Council votes and no veto from any permanent member.

By Aghakazim Guliyev