Reports say Trump officials are backing Orbán for UN secretary-general

A report says Trump administration officials are supporting former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as a possible UN secretary-general candidate, but no final decision has been made. The report also describes opposition to the idea and uncertainty over how a nomination could proceed.

• Euronews, citing the Wall Street Journal, reports that Trump administration officials are advocating Orbán’s nomination and that sources in the United States, Russia and China say the administration supports his bid. The report says no final decision has been taken.· 1 source
• The report says Orbán lost Hungary’s parliamentary election in April to Péter Magyar’s Tisza party, ending his 16 years in government. It also says Hungarian authorities have opened fraud and corruption investigations involving former government members.· 1 source
• Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Alimov said Russia, the United States and China would not nominate Orbán, stating that permanent Security Council members do not nominate candidates. He said those backing the idea would need to find a nominating country.· 1 source
• Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said he did not expect Poland to support Orbán’s candidacy; Ukraine’s foreign minister also spoke against the idea. The Hill reports that Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the possibility “funny.”· 2 sources
• The Euronews report says a candidate needs support from at least nine of the 15 Security Council members, and any of the five permanent members can veto a nomination. It reports that Orbán would run only if his victory were assured.· 1 source