Portugal ex-PM to head UN

Guterres, who served as the UN’s refugee chief until last December, led all five previous polls.

United Nations: Portugal’s former prime minister Antonio Guterres was poised to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations following a sixth straw poll by the Security Council, diplomats said on Wednesday.

Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters that Guterres was the “clear favorite” and announced a formal vote by the council on Thursday to confirm the choice of nominee.

Guterres, who served as the UN’s refugee chief until last December, led all five previous polls. Diplomats said in the sixth poll, where the five veto-wielding council members used different colored ballots, he received 13 “encourage” votes, no “discourage” votes and two “no opinion.”

Churkin said the council will meet on Thursday to formally approve Guterres and recommend his candidacy to the 193-member General Assembly.

For Guterres to be formally recommended to the General Assembly, the Council needs to adopt a resolution behind closed doors. The resolution needs at least nine votes in favor.