Newsletters
The Trump administration has encouraged former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to run for U.N. secretary-general, with Russia and China believed to be supportive, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.
The plan would make Orban a joint candidate of the U.S., Russia and China and awaits a final decision, the newspaper’s editorial board wrote, citing sources from three countries.
U.S. officials first approached Orban to gauge his interest and found him receptive but cautious, unwilling to run unless confident he could win, the Journal reported. Orban declined to comment.
A State Department official conceded the idea "sounds crazy at first," according to the Journal, but counted eight Security Council votes "comfortably" for Orban and 10 within reach among the council’s 15 members.
When the U.S., Russia and China want the same thing at the Security Council, they usually get it, officials from the U.S. and a second country told the newspaper.
Britain and France, both veto-wielding permanent members, could oppose the move, though the Journal noted they are typically cautious about using their vetoes.
As U.S. officials discussed who they wanted to lead the U.N., Orban’s name kept coming up, and Chinese and Russian counterparts agreed, the newspaper reported. U.S. officials eventually asked: "Why not Mr. Orban?"
The State Department official called Orban “the dream MAGA-conservative candidate,” the Journal reported, citing his stance against mass migration, liberal NGOs and Hungary’s left-leaning courts and press.
An official from a second country said the rest of the field is heavy on “secretary,” with bureaucratic or diplomatic backgrounds, while Orban would be a “general.” The U.S. official agreed, saying Orban would not be intimidated by the U.N. establishment.
U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed Orban in Hungary’s April election, which Orban lost, and Vice President JD Vance campaigned for him. Both are expected to back him again if he enters the race, though an announcement has been held until after the U.S. midterm elections, a third source told the newspaper.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ term ends Dec. 31.
The race for the next U.N. secretary-general now includes a possible bid backed by Washington, Moscow and Beijing.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
2 min read
