The UN Security Council is preparing to hold its first informal straw poll in the race to select the next Secretary-General of the United Nations, a step aimed at gauging the level of support enjoyed by candidates to succeed António Guterres.

Diplomatic sources in New York said the straw poll is expected on July 30, as the competition enters a more serious phase before Guterres' term ends on December 31, after two full terms at the helm of the international organization.

The straw poll does not represent a final selection, but it serves as an early test of the balance of power within the Security Council and reveals each candidate's ability to rally support and avoid objections from the five permanent members.

Under the selection mechanism, a candidate needs the backing of at least 9 out of the 15 Security Council members, with the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom holding veto power over any candidate.

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After the Security Council agrees on a candidate, the name is submitted to the UN General Assembly for endorsement.

So far, six candidates have entered the race, including IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, former Senegalese President Macky Sall, along with Rebeca Grynspan, Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett, María Fernanda Espinosa, and former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet.

The competition gains an additional dimension given the unwritten tradition of geographical rotation, which this time strengthens the demands of Latin American and Caribbean countries to take the post.

The race also reopens the issue of women's representation in the top UN post, as no woman has held the Secretary-General position since the organization's founding.