In one of the more predictable rites of spring at the United Nations, the Security Council has elected, or actually selected, five new non-permanent members to serve on the powerful 15-member council. While this year's contest lacked some of the drama, debate and deliberation of the past, there were some positive outcomes to the current vote nonetheless.
The council's five permanent members are among the UN's founders in 1945 and the Big Five during WWII: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Indeed the so-called Perm Five with veto power still hold the cards. Yet there are another 10 non-permanent members elected for two year terms from among the UN's 193 member states.
So in the current contest members from the different geographical groups are chosen for a coveted two year tenure in the UN's most powerful deliberative body. Voting for the non-permanent members is carried out by secret ballot and even an unopposed state must receive two/thirds majority, that's 128 votes.
