Rebeca Grynspan, a Jewish diplomat and daughter of Holocaust refugees, has finished first in the latest informal vote to choose the next United Nations chief, putting her ahead of six other candidates seeking to replace António Guterres.
The former Costa Rican vice president received nine supportive votes from the 15-member Security Council on Wednesday, with six voting against her. She remains the leading candidate, although her support fell from ten votes in the previous round.
Her Polish Jewish parents survived persecution in Europe and eventually built a new life in Costa Rica. If selected, Grynspan would become both the first Jewish person and the first woman to lead the UN.
The race remains open because the final choice needs at least nine Security Council votes without a veto from the United States, Britain, France, China or Russia, followed by approval from the General Assembly.