**António Guterres is completing his second five-year term as UN Secretary-General on December 31, 2026, with the formal selection process for a successor actively underway but deadlocked.** Recent Security Council straw polls through mid-October 2026 have produced no consensus candidate, as leading contenders including Rebeca Grynspan, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, and Rafael Grossi each received multiple discourage votes from permanent members, triggering potential vetoes. Negotiations continue ahead of further polls, yet Guterres has signaled no interest in an interim extension and plans to return to Portugal afterward. Official engagements, including recent visits and statements on conflicts and multilateral issues, show him fulfilling duties through the term’s close without reported early-exit pressures or resignation signals. Trader consensus at 72.5% for “No” aligns with the standard term-end timeline and absence of developments that would force departure before year-end.