Magyar opposes Orban's candidacy for UN Secretary‑General
Magyar warned that choosing Orban would 'destroy' the United Nations and pointed to jailed senior party figures.
Hungary's prime minister, Peter Magyar, delivered a sharp rebuke to the idea that his predecessor, Viktor Orban, should stand for Secretary‑General of the United Nations, saying such a choice would effectively destroy the world body.
Speaking after a meeting with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, Magyar said: "The United Nations is not a criminal organisation and should not be led by a mafia boss."
Magyar also noted that three senior figures from Orban's party are already behind bars, using that point to underline his warning about the reputational risk to the UN if Orban were chosen.
Contested field and international reactions
The comments come amid media reports that Orban has signalled limited interest in the UN job but has stayed cautious, and that he would only enter the contest if he judged he had realistic chances of winning. Possible official backing from US President Donald Trump and Vice‑President J. D. Vance has been mooted and could be declared following congressional midterm elections.
The Security Council has so far failed to coalesce around a single candidate after several rounds of informal voting. Britain and France — both permanent members of the council — are reported to be among those who could oppose Orban's bid.
Other names under consideration for the post include Caroline Rodrigues‑Birkett of Guyana, Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica and Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet withdrew after a third round of secret voting in September, while Lana Nusseibeh of the United Arab Emirates has recently entered the contest.
Viktor Orban led Hungary for 16 years in two periods, from 1998 to 2002 and from 2010 until 2026. He lost power in the April 2026 elections to the leader of the Tisa party, Peter Magyar. Orban has maintained close ties with Donald Trump as well as with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping; Trump publicly backed him previously and Vice‑President J. D. Vance travelled to Hungary to campaign on his behalf.
Photo: EPA/TIBOR ILLYES HUNGARY OUT
