Costa Rican former VP Rebeca Grynspan runs for UN chief, pushing reforms and merit-based selection amid global challenges.

Rebeca Grynspan, Costa Rica’s former vice-president and head of UNCTAD, is running for UN secretary-general, advocating for reforms to make the organization more agile and effective. She emphasizes her experience in high-pressure roles, calls for rebuilding trust among member states, and stresses the need for better conflict prevention, civil society engagement, and financial stability. As Latin America’s candidate in a race with former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet and Argentinian IAEA chief Rafael Grossi, she rejects gender-based favoritism, insisting on a merit-based selection. Drawing on her family’s survival of the Holocaust, she promotes leadership grounded in honesty, resilience, and optimism, aiming to restore public faith in the UN amid global challenges.