Hungary opposes Mark Rutte's candidacy for NATO Secretary General
The Hungarian government opposes Dutch
Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s candidacy for NATO Secretary General, citing
his alleged past comments about bringing Hungary “to its knees,” Foreign
Affairs Minister Péter Szijjártó said on May 27, Magyarnemzet
reported.
“It is very difficult to imagine that someone who holds and supports such a position could be elected as the head of an organization where 100 percent trust is required,” Szijjártó stated.
“We have to be able to die for each other here, and it should be led by someone we can trust 100 percent.”
Simultaneously, Szijjártó endorsed Romanian President Klaus Iohannis for the position.
While there is much discussion about strengthening NATO's eastern flank, “nobody seems to consider that if the threat comes from the east, perhaps the Secretary General should also be from the east,” he said.
Szijjártó also mentioned having a contentious debate earlier that day with his Lithuanian counterpart, Gabrielius Landsbergis, in Brussels, labeling him “one of the most pro-war” politicians among EU foreign ministers.
“No matter how much they shout at me or act aggressively, I remain a peacemaker…” Szijjártó added.
“We Hungarians advocate for peace and do not support any measures that would increase the risk of war escalation.”
“We want peace as soon as possible because only peace can save lives.”
Hungary should not be part of the EU due to the enactment of a new law banning the discussion of LGBT topics in schools, Rutte said in June 2021, noting that the “long-term goal is to bring Hungary to its knees on this issue.”
NATO Secretary General elections
Klaus Iohannis announced his candidacy for NATO Secretary General on March 12.
Rutte was the front-runner for the position, expressing his interest in late October, Politico reported in early November 2023.
Latvian Foreign Minister Krišjānis Kariņš and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas have also announced their candidacies for the NATO Secretary General position.
The term of the current NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, ends in October.
Stoltenberg was initially set to conclude his tenure at the end of September 2023, but due to a lack of consensus on his successor, NATO members requested he extends his contract.
Will you support Ukraine’s free press?
Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations.
As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility – to amplify Ukraine’s voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation.
It’s the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine.
If you’re willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.
Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda.
Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd.
If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly.
There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting.
We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If you’re willing to stand up for the truth – consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much.
Will you help tell Ukraine’s story to the world?
Twenty years ago, most people hadn’t even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyone’s lips and everyone’s headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of – from music and culture to technology.
We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If you’re willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
