Front-runners neck and neck in race to become U.N. nuclear chief

Of the four candidates to succeed Japan’s Yukiya Amano, who died in office in July, Argentina’s ambassador to the IAEA Rafael Grossi and Amano’s former right-hand man, Cornel Feruta of Romania, came far ahead of their other rivals, the IAEA said.

Grossi, a veteran of nuclear diplomacy who is widely believed to have secured the United States’ support, received the most votes in the so-called “straw poll” aimed at whittling down the field, with 15 countries backing him.

Feruta, who has taken over as acting director general and has depicted himself as the candidate of continuity, secured 14 votes.

The Swedish chairwoman of the board has said she hopes the winner will be picked this month by consensus, but in effect the successful candidate must secure the support of two-thirds of the board, or 24 countries, as 12 votes is a blocking minority.

Lassina Zerbo of Burkina Faso, who heads another Vienna-based body, the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), came third with four votes.

Slovakia’s candidate, Marta Ziakova, who heads her country’s nuclear regulator, secured no votes and will most likely be encouraged to pull out of the race, diplomats said, adding that two countries abstained.

Another straw poll is expected to be held next week.