A Note on Grossi
Rule effective September 5, 2026
Rafael Mariano Grossi presents a special editorial case for The Stringer. He continues to serve as Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency while campaigning to become UN Secretary-General. His public activity therefore mixes routine agency work, consequential international diplomacy and engagements that may also be relevant to his candidacy.
The Stringer excludes Grossi’s routine technical IAEA work and, from September 5, meetings or activities at IAEA headquarters in Vienna. Significant diplomatic engagements outside headquarters may still be included, even when they do not explicitly mention the Secretary-General contest.
Grossi developments published before September 5 were evaluated under an earlier version of The Stringer’s editorial rule, which allowed a broader range of diplomatic meetings conducted through his IAEA role. Those entries remain visible as part of the project’s editorial record and have not been evaluated retroactively under the revised rule.
This is a narrow exception for Grossi. It is intended to capture diplomatic activity that may matter to the contest without treating his ordinary IAEA responsibilities as campaigning.
Grossi is the only candidate continuing to serve actively as head of a UN-related international organization while campaigning. Rebeca Grynspan remains Secretary-General of UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), but took special leave from April 1 through September 30, 2026 while pursuing her candidacy.