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More candidates may be added to list of potential candidates to head UN — diplomat

Alexander Alimov says this will depend on the dynamics of the indicative vote that will continue at the UN Security Council

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov Vladimir Gerdo/TASS

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov

© Vladimir Gerdo/TASS

MOSCOW, August 8. /TASS/. It is possible that more candidates to become the next UN secretary-general are added to the current list, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov said.

"The list is not yet closed. The seventh candidate, a representative of Uganda, joined at the last moment. We see the possibility of more candidates emerging, depending on the dynamics of the indicative vote that will continue at the UN Security Council," the official said.

The UN will begin choosing its next chief on July 24, and the selection will end as soon as one candidate secures nine votes, including five from the UN Security Council’s veto-wielding members. The term of the current UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expires on December 31, 2026.

At this point, the list of official candidates contains Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi, former President of Chile Michelle Bachelet, ex-President of Senegal Macky Sall, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Rebeca Grynspan, former Foreign Minister and Defense Minister of Ecuador Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Uganda’s former envoy to UN, Olara Otunnu.

On July 30, 2026, the UN Security Council held its first closed-door, informal straw poll for the next UN Secretary-General. Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica emerged as the early frontrunner with 10 "encourage" votes.

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Foreign policy United Nations

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