Former Portuguese PM Antonio Guterres may emerge next UN Secretary General

Former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres has emerged as the favoured candidate for UN Secretary General in a straw poll by the UN Security Council that is unlikely to be vetoed, says Vitaly Churkin, Russian ambassador to the UN. "Today, after our sixth straw poll, we have a clear favourite and his name is Antonio […]

Former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres has emerged as the favoured candidate for UN Secretary General in a straw poll by the UN Security Council that is unlikely to be vetoed, says Vitaly Churkin, Russian ambassador to the UN.

"Today, after our sixth straw poll, we have a clear favourite and his name is Antonio Guterres," Churkin says.

The council will take a formal vote on Thursday and will then send its recommendation to the UN General Assembly, which will also take a vote to essentially rubber-stamp the council’s decision.

"An agreement has been reached. UN Security Council members to elect me as new UN Secretary General. I’m honoured and happy," Guterres said in a post on Twitter. (DPA)