What is the role of the Security Council in electing the SG?

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The Security Council Recommends the UN Secretary-General to the General Assembly

The Security Council plays a pivotal role in the election of the UN Secretary-General by formally recommending a candidate to the General Assembly. This recommendation process involves secret ballots, known as straw polls, where council members indicate their support, opposition, or neutrality towards each nominee. Crucially, the five permanent members of the Security Council, holding veto power—the United States, Russia, Britain, China, and France—must reach a consensus for a candidate to advance.
Straw Polls Determine Consensus Among Council Members

To reach an agreement on a candidate, the Security Council conducts a series of straw polls. During these secret ballots, council members are presented with options to "encourage," "discourage," or express "no opinion" for each nominee. This process continues until a consensus candidate emerges. For instance, when the current Secretary-General, António Guterres, was chosen in 2016, it required six straw polls before the council could agree on a recommendation.
Permanent Members' Agreement is Essential

The agreement of the five permanent Security Council members is a non-negotiable aspect of the selection process. These nations hold veto power, meaning any one of them can block a recommendation. Traditionally, the ballots used for these permanent members during the straw polls are distinguished by a different color from those used by the ten elected members, highlighting their distinct role.
Formal Recommendation and General Assembly Approval

Once a consensus is achieved through the straw polls, the Security Council formally adopts a resolution recommending a candidate to the General Assembly. This resolution typically requires a minimum of nine affirmative votes and, critically, no vetoes from the permanent members. The General Assembly's subsequent approval of the appointed secretary-general has historically been considered a procedural step, often referred to as a "rubber stamp."

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What is the role of the Security Council in electing the SG?

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