Costa Rica's Grynspan extends lead in informal UN chief poll

An informal poll by the United Nations Security Council on Thursday showed former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan extended her lead as

frontrunner in the race to become the 10th UN secretary-general, people close to the process said.



Grynspan received 12 votes in favor and three against on the 15-member council, marking her strongest showing in eight closed-door ballots conducted in recent months to replace Antonio Guterres as he finishes his second five-year term this year.



Whoever wins will have to tackle multiple crises, including several wars, cutbacks in US contributions to the UN, and the 193-member body's declining political relevance as Washington has pulled out of dozens of its agencies.



Securing the council's recommendation will require a formal vote, expected once one candidate shows a strong chance of prevailing, with at least nine positive votes and no "discourage" votes from the five permanent members — France, Britain, the US, Russia and China. Thursday's ballot did not

disclose the preferences of those five members.