The race is on for the next United Nations secretary general

The United Nations Security Council will begin straw polls Thursday to whittle down the field of candidates for the next U.N. secretary-general. Seven candidates are running to replace António Guterres. Transcript SACHA PFEIFFER, HOST: The United Nations Security Council is going to begin straw polls tomorrow. The plan is to whittle down a list of candidates for U.N. secretary-general. There are seven candidates in the running to replace Antonio Guterres. His term ends at the end of this year, and diplomats are hoping they can agree on a replacement soon. NPR's Michele Kelemen reports.MICHELE KELEMEN, BYLINE: The president of the U.N. General Assembly, Germany's Annalena Baerbock, has been hosting public interviews of the candidates. And most took part in a town hall last week.(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)ANNALENA BAERBOCK: The person we choose will not only be the face of this house of humanity, but also its custodian.KELEMEN: A former assistant secretary of state who focused on U.N. affairs, Esther Brimmer says she's been impressed by the open debates.ESTHER BRIMMER: This process is much more transparent and visible to the public, which is a good thing, that it helps more peo...