Trump to Nominate Viktor Orbán as UN Secretary General

According to an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on Sunday, Oct. 25, US President Donald Trump has urged former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to stand as a candidate for the next UN Secretary-General. It cites sources from three countries that both Russia and China endorse the idea and are confident of getting sufficient support from the members of the UN Security Council (UNSC).May not be as crazy as some thinkAccording to the report an unnamed US State Department official said what might seem a “crazy” idea was likely to secure at least eight if not 10 of the UNSC members.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.Another source from a second country said “when the US, Russia, and China all want the same thing at the UN Security Council, they usually get it.”There is, however, the possibility that France or the UK could use their powers of veto to block Orbán’s nomination. According to another source, he was keen on the idea but would only put himself forward if he was confident of winning. Orbán declined to comment when approached.The newspaper commented that while there were several reasons to object Orbán as an apologist for Russian President Vladimir Putin and others, as he is “the dream MAGA-conservative candidate,” due to his track record of blocking “mass migration, liberal NGOs, and Hungary’s left-leaning courts and press.”WSJ pointed out that Trump had endorsed Orbán during April’s Hungarian election drive, and Vice President JD Vance had campaigned for him in the country. It commented that it should be no surprise if they backed him if he entered the UN race, while suggesting they might hold off making a formal announcement ahead of the US midterms. Other Topics of Interest Trump Eyes Post-War Business Ties With Both Ukraine and Russia Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the US will do business with both Ukraine and Russia after the war, amid debates over tariffs and sanctions waivers. When would he take over?The tenure of the current UN Secretary-General, António Guterres expires on Dec. 31 and, traditionally, the new incumbent would take office the next day on Jan. 1. The UNSC recommends its preferred candidate must be endorsed by the UN General Assembly (UNGA).Currently seven candidates have put their names forward for the post, none of which have yet secured UNSC support. These include Argentine diplomat Rafael Grossi, Costa Rican economist Rebeca Grynspan, former Senegalese President Macky Sall, Ecuador’s Maria Fernanda Espinosa former UNGA president, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett Guyana’s UN permanent representative, former UN under-secretary-general Ugandan diplomat Olara Otunnu, Ecuadorian diplomat Yvonne Abdul-Baki, and Emirati diplomat Lana Nusseibeh.The UNSC is expected to make an initial selection via a “straw poll” on Wednesday, Oct. 28 which could be held up by use of a permanent member’s veto until Orbán joins the race and receives the anticipated US endorsement. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.