Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan emerged as the leading candidate to become the United Nations secretary‑general, the first woman to hold the post. The successor to António Guterres, whose second term ends on 31 December 2026, is expected to follow an informal regional rotation that favors a Latin American candidate. A secret straw poll of the UN Security Council was conducted in August. Grynspan received ten encourage votes, four no‑opinion votes and one discourage vote, giving her a strong opening position. Her closest rival, Guyana’s former UN envoy Carolyn Rodrigues‑Burkett, obtained nine encourage votes, two discourage votes and four no‑opinion votes. A Bloomberg‑sponsored debate at the General Assembly last month showed Grynspan with 14 percent support and Rodrigues‑Burkett with 49 percent among attendees. One western diplomat noted that Grynspan is viewed as a continuity candidate with tacit support from Guterres, but the source of discouragement votes could affect the outcome if they come from Russia, China or the United States. The election takes place amid concerns about the legitimacy of multilateralism, as the UN has reduced staff by 20 percent and the secretary‑general’s mediating role is increasingly contested. If elected, Grynspan would be the first Jewish secretary‑general and would lead a UN that has documented extensive economic damage in the Palestinian territories, with a February 2026 UNCTAD report estimating cumulative losses of $212.2 billion in constant 2015 dollars from 2000 to 2024. The report linked the loss to occupation policies, restrictions and military operations. Grynspan has highlighted the figure to argue for peace, saying her parents were refugees from World War II and that peace enabled their dignity in Costa Rica. Her niece and nephew have completed service in the Israel Defense Forces. Other potential candidates, including former UN human rights commissioner Michelle Bachelet, face opposition, notably from the United States, which has criticized her record on China. Recent suggestions that FIFA president Gianni Infantino should replace the secretary‑general reflect a shift in U.S. preferences. The secretary‑general is elected after the General Assembly endorses a single Security Council recommendation; a candidate needs nine positive votes and no veto from any permanent member. The process must conclude by the end of the year, with additional Security Council meetings planned to test support.