Former Portuguese PM heads first round of polls for UN Sec-Gen post

Former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres, has emerged as the front funner for the post of Secretary General, in the first round of informal polls held on Thursday, in the race to succeed Ban Ki-moon.

Former Slovenian President Danilo Turk was second while UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova of Bulgaria came in third, in a race that has 12 candidates vying for UN’s top job.

The straw polls was described as an “indicative vote” by Japan’s permanent representative to the Security Council, Koro Bessho.

So far, no woman has ever headed the global body and there is reportedly an intense female power campaign to have a woman become the world’s top diplomat.

The polls are expected to continue until the council can agree on a candidate who garners most votes in the 15- member body without being vetoed by a permanent member.

There is no deadline for nominations for Secretary General and candidates can theoretically enter the fray until the final vote at the end of this year.