US Apparently Considering Viktor Orbán as Candidate for UN Secretary-General

To be elected, a candidate needs nine of 15 votes in the UN Security Council. In addition, none of the five permanent members may exercise a veto. Besides the US, Russia and China, this requires France and the United Kingdom.

Majority and Veto Powers

This would give a joint US, Russian and Chinese candidacy a certain technical basis. The five veto powers would, however, have to agree on one person or at least support a joint candidate who then secures the required majority. Orbán would therefore have to win support not only from the three countries mentioned, but also from the rest of the Council.

The question of candidates also touches on the broad role of the Secretary-General. Under his leadership, the United Nations will continue the work of the Security Council and other bodies. Confirmed information contains no statements about the political objectives the US associates with a possible Orbán candidacy.

Other people mentioned in connection with the matter are Donald Trump and Lana Nusseibeh. However, verified facts provide insufficient grounds for their respective roles, offices or connections to the reported deliberations. Any specific attribution to Donald Trump or Lana Nusseibeh would therefore not be substantiated.

Open Questions

The Security Council is not only responsible for elections; it also oversees measures to maintain peace. The available facts cannot establish how a possible election of Orbán could affect the work of the United Nations. Nor is it known whether talks about a candidacy have already taken place.

The reports indicate a possible development, not a completed personnel decision. A formal candidacy, public nomination or Security Council vote are not identified in the verified facts. Until a confirmed nomination, the political intentions and support of other Council members remain unclear.

Outlook on the Election Process

For an election to take place, the participants would also have to take the involvement of the non-permanent members into account. Nine votes constitute the majority of the 15-member Council, but a candidate would additionally have to secure the required support among the remaining states. The names of possible supporters are not given in the verified information.

The development shows that the US, in filling the post of Secretary-General in the future, is looking at a candidate who could also be supported by Moscow and Beijing. This would complicate the search for broader consensus, as Paris and London also possess veto powers. Whether this will actually result in a joint candidacy has not yet been confirmed.