As after the first round vote, the United Nations, despite the insistence of the Chairman of the General Assembly, were not ready to announce the results, and the public found out the outcome from a side source.
As it was the case on 21 July, the Portuguese Antonio Guterres got the greatest support, but two countries did not support his candidacy. Diplomats at the UN say that his chances to be appointed secretary general are lower if one of the votes supporting him is from Russia.
According to the World Federation of UN Associations (which previously published the results too), the former Serbian foreign minister Vuk Jeremic follows. His candidacy was supported by eight countries, four countries did not support his candidacy, whereas three of them abstained.
The only woman among the leading candidates, according to the results of the second round of voting, is Susana Malcorra, who has eight votes of support, and six against.
Seven states supported Danilo Turk from Slovenia and Bulgaria’s Irina Bokova. UN diplomats believe that the majority of the remaining candidates will soon withdraw from the race.
The candidates are also former Macedonian Foreign Minister Srdjan Kerim, Natalija German from Moldova, New Zealander Helen Clark, Slovak Miroslav Lajcak and Christian Figueres from Costa Rica.
