Orbán for UN secretary-general: Trump backs ex-Hungarian premier

U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly pushing former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for the post of UN secretary-general. The candidacy could be formally announced after Nov. 3, once the U.S. congressional elections are over. Orbán himself declined to comment on the report, but he is said to be interested in the job.

A State Department source told the publication that, based on earlier talks with Moscow and Beijing, Washington believes both powers would back Orbán. According to the source, officials spoke of finding “someone like Orbán,” and both countries would allegedly support such a candidate. Moscow and Beijing have made no public commitments, and no binding three-way agreement is yet on the table.

Why the candidacy is controversial

For Trump's supporters, Orbán would be a “dream candidate.” According to The Wall Street Journal, the former Hungarian premier fought immigration and liberal organizations, weakened independent media and constitutional institutions, blocked aid to Ukraine, befriended Vladimir Putin and courted China. Critics fear that at the head of the UN he could be more loyal to authoritarian rulers than to the organization's charter.

Who else is in the race

The term of the current UN chief, Portugal's António Guterres, expires on Dec. 31 of this year. UN member states are gradually putting forward candidates, who are already publishing their platforms and answering questions from member countries. The contenders include Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan, Argentina's Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the recently nominated diplomat Lana Nusseibeh of the United Arab Emirates. Orbán is not yet on the official list of candidates.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz