UN launches hunt for next chief amid rising challenges

Antonio Guterres’s successor will be tasked with revitalising an organisation in crisis and facing pressure to reform.Published On 30 Jul 202630 Jul 2026The United Nations has launched a search for its next secretary-general, as the international institution faces numerous challenges.A first informal UN Security ⁠Council poll on Thursday showed former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan as the early frontrunner, although several other candidates are in the race.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4New investigation shows how an Israeli settler escaped justicelist 2 of 4Can the UN’s Refugee Convention survive?list 3 of 4Europe’s heating climate sparks ‘major intensification’ of fires: Reportlist 4 of 4UN demands end of Ugandan clampdown on dissentend of listWhoever takes over from Antonio Guterres, who has led the UN for the past decade, will face significant challenges amid spiralling global conflict and the rising criticism from far-right populist movements against international institutions.Therefore, Guterres’s successor will be tasked with revitalising an organisation in crisis, with a declining status and increasing pressure to reform.In the ⁠non-binding “straw...