Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar sharply criticized the idea of possibly appointing his predecessor Viktor Orbán as UN Secretary-General. According to him, such a step would mark the beginning of the end of the United Nations.
Magyar made the statement on 29 October 2026 at a joint press conference with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš in Prague, where Hungarian-Czech intergovernmental consultations were taking place.
“I do not consider it appropriate to put him at the head of the UN. The only thing he aspires to is to destroy this organization,” the Hungarian prime minister said. He added that if someone wants to liquidate the UN, appointing Orbán would be a “good start.” Magyar also called his predecessor a “mafia boss,” pointing to the high level of corruption during his years in power and the arrests of former high-ranking officials.
The comment came against the backdrop of recent reports in The Wall Street Journal that the US administration is considering Orbán as a potential candidate for UN Secretary-General. According to sources, the idea was advanced in Washington, and Russia and China could offer support. Orbán himself has not yet officially announced any intention to run. The term of current Secretary-General António Guterres expires on 31 December 2026.
Péter Magyar became Prime Minister of Hungary on 9 May 2026 after his Tisza party’s victory in the 12 April parliamentary elections. This ended Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule. The new government is focusing on fighting corruption, restoring relations with the EU, and reforms, while Orbán remains an influential figure in the opposition and on the international stage.
