Rebeca Grynspan Emerges as Top UN Candidate

Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan is poised to become the first female head of the UN, gaining support as the frontrunner in a competitive field.

Rebeca Grynspan, a diplomat from Costa Rica and former vice president, has emerged as a leading candidate to become the first female secretary general of the United Nations. With a compelling background that includes being the child of Holocaust refugees, Grynspan is currently at the helm of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Her parents fled to Central America from Poland, and her maternal grandparents were victims of the Nazi regime.

As the UN approaches the end of António Guterres’ second term on December 31, 2026, a shift in leadership is expected, with Grynspan viewed as a continuity candidate who carries the tacit endorsement of Guterres. In an initial straw poll conducted by the UN Security Council, she received robust support, securing 10 “encourage” votes against one “discourage” vote and four “no opinion” votes from the assembled members.

The outcome of this poll places her in a favorable light, particularly when considering the significance of the discouragement, which could impact the next steps in the nomination process. “Grynspan is seen by some as the continuity candidate, having the tacit support from Guterres,” said a western diplomat. The results of the straw poll indicate potential tensions ahead, especially if objections to her candidacy arise from prominent countries like Russia, China, or the United States.

The election of the next UN secretary general comes at a pivotal time when the authority and relevance of multilateral institutions are being questioned amidst significant reductions in UN staff and ongoing geopolitical conflicts. Grynspan, if elected, would also hold the distinction of becoming the first Jewish individual to occupy this position. Despite the UN’s criticism regarding its perceived bias towards Israel, Grynspan has leveraged her Jewish identity to advocate for peace and resolution of longstanding conflicts.

During a recent address to the UN General Assembly, she reflected on her heritage, stating, “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.”

Grynspan’s leadership at UNCTAD has been marked by comprehensive reports detailing the severe economic impacts of Israel’s prolonged occupation of Palestinian territories. Her February 2026 report highlighted staggering statistics, indicating that the Palestinian economy had suffered an estimated loss of $212.2 billion from 2000 to 2024, a figure that significantly exceeded the entire projected GDP for 2024.

Further elaborating on the dire situation in Gaza, Grynspan noted that the GDP per capita had plummeted to an alarming $161 per year, categorizing it as one of the most severe economic declines documented in modern times.

Though Grynspan stands as a frontrunner, other candidates, including former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, face substantial opposition. In Bachelet’s case, the U.S. government has criticized her for perceived leniency towards human rights issues linked to China, complicating her bid for the position. Furthermore, the recent suggestion from the previous Trump administration that Fifa president Gianni Infantino should be considered underscores a drift in U.S. priorities regarding UN leadership.

The next secretary general will be chosen after the 193-member general assembly is approached to endorse a recommendation from the security council. A candidate must achieve nine supportive votes without facing a veto from a council member to secure the position. The decisive meetings are projected to occur before the end of the year, with anticipation building around who will ultimately succeed Guterres.