Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett has moved into first place in the contest to become the next United Nations secretary general, after a second informal Security Council straw poll showed her edging ahead of Rebeca Grynspan.

Rodrigues Birkett secured eight “encourage” votes, while three members indicated “discourage” and four expressed “no opinion”, according to results released by Guyana’s Department of Public Information.

Grynspan, who led the opening poll, received seven “encourage” votes, four “discourage” votes and four “no opinion” votes in the latest round.

The result marks a shift in the contest. In the first poll, Grynspan recorded 10 “encourage” votes, two “discourage” votes and three “no opinion” votes. Rodrigues Birkett received nine “encourage” votes, two “discourage” votes and four “no opinion” votes.

Although both candidates lost support in the second round, Grynspan’s number of “encourage” votes fell by three, compared with a decline of one for Rodrigues Birkett.

Straw polls are confidential, informal exercises conducted by the 15 member Security Council to measure candidates’ prospects. They are not binding and do not determine who will ultimately become secretary general.

Rodrigues Birkett, a former Guyanese foreign minister, was nominated by Guyana to replace António Guterres, the current secretary general. Her latest lead, however, does not amount to a selection.

The Security Council must eventually agree on a candidate and recommend that person to the UN General Assembly, which has the authority to make the formal appointment.

The identities of countries behind individual votes are not disclosed. The positions of the five permanent Council members, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, will be especially significant because each has veto power over the Council’s recommendation.

Additional consultations and straw polls are expected as members work to identify a candidate capable of securing sufficient backing for a formal recommendation to the General Assembly.

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