Europe Today: Israel votes on Netanyahu's future as Orbán is floated for UN chief

Name: Europe Today: Israel votes on Netanyahu's future as Orbán is floated for UN chief
Uploaded: 2026-10-27T08:03:03+00:00
Duration: 17 min 33 s
Channel: euronews (in English)

00:14Good morning. It's Tuesday, October 27th. You're watching Euronews and this is Europe Today.

00:22Our top stories. About 7.3 million Israelis are called to the polls today to elect a new

00:28parliament. It's the first nationwide election since the Hamas-led attack more than three years

00:33ago and the ensuing war in the Gaza Strip. The vote is shaping up to be a referendum on Prime

00:39Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been in power for practically three decades. Recent opinion

00:45polls suggest that neither Netanyahu's Likud bloc nor the opposition alliance is on track to secure

00:51a majority in the Knesset. European leaders have hailed Brazilian President Lula da Silva's re-election

00:58for a fourth term, defying predictions of a right-wing surge in Latin America's most populous

01:03country and securing a key ally for the EU. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

01:10and European Council President Antonio Costa were among the first to congratulate Lula,

01:15with whom they worked closely to secure the EU-Mercosur trade deal. And Trump administration

01:22officials are advocating the nomination of former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for the

01:28post of UN Secretary General, according to the Wall Street Journal. The newspaper reports that

01:34Orbán could be a joint US, Russian and Chinese candidate and that sources in all three countries have

01:40confirmed Trump is backing his bid. Orbán lost power in Hungary's parliamentary election in April and

01:47has only rarely been seen in public ever since. Welcome to the program. I'm Stefan Grobe.

01:54Israel heads to the polls today in what is already seen as one of its most consequential elections

02:00in years. It's the country's first national vote since the Hamas-led attacks of the 7th of October

02:072023 and comes after three years of war, growing political divisions and mounting questions over Prime

02:14Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership. But could the outcome reshape not only Israel's political

02:20future, but also the balance of power across the Middle East and its relations with the wider world?

02:26To talk about all this, I'm now joined by our correspondent, Sasha Vakulina. Good morning, Sasha.

02:33So is this essentially a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu?

02:37In a nutshell, yes. But Stefan, let's face it, every election is a referendum to the sitting government

02:43and the sitting prime minister. But of course, in Israel, this vote carries particular weight. Now,

02:49covering this election and in the run-up to the vote today, I've heard every description of this

02:55vote from the experts and the politicians in Israel. They called it pivotal, they called it crucial,

03:00they called it the most consequential, which gives you an idea on how important the vote is,

03:05of course, and what is at stake for Israel, for the region and for the global politics as well.

03:10Now, the turnout is expected to be very high. Reportedly, at least 70,000 people have flown

03:17to Israel to cause their votes from abroad. So you have this big anticipation happening.

03:22Netanyahu is, of course, as you say, Israel's longest serving prime minister, and the voters are being

03:28asked to assess and to judge on his leadership, specifically after the Hamas-led attack of the

03:357th of October 2023. And also the wars that have followed afterwards. Now, Netanyahu, according to

03:41the latest polls, he is in near neck and neck race with former military chief Gadi Azenkot for the prime

03:49minister job. And now Gadi Azenkot is seen as one of the leaders of this election campaign. But,

03:56you know, for Israel, a lot comes to security, of course, and for Netanyahu, he will be judged on

04:03those aspects. And, you know, on all these conflicts on multiple fronts for Israeli government on its

04:11take on Gaza, on its take occupied West Bank, and the tensions there, and of course, on Lebanon,

04:16and now the Israel and the US war and Iran, and the possible escalation that we have been hearing over

04:23the past couple of days that it might renew the tensions there. And then, of course,

04:28the investigation that never took place.

04:31You mentioned October 7 several times. Is this date still the defining issue of this

04:37election campaign?

04:38Very much so. Even today, on the voting day, their families, the people and the families of the

04:43October 7 hostages and the victims are gathering the so-called hostage square, what they call vote

04:49for accountability. This is very much a big issue for Israeli society and the voters.

04:54They want to have this independent investigation, the investigation that did not take place,

04:59because for them, it's all about the responsibility and the accountability. And who is going to take the,

05:04who's going to be responsible for what is widely seen as the biggest security failure in Israel's

05:10history?

05:10We're talking about 1,200 people killed in one day, 251 hostages. And this is something that

05:16Israelis, the voters do need answers for. And this is what I discussed with Yossi Mekkelberg,

05:23an associate fellow and the professor at Chatham House earlier.

05:26The one demand that unites all the opposition, and I suspect mainly from the coalition as well,

05:35or those who support the coalition. It's a state commission of inquiry. It's impossible in a democracy.

05:42When such a failure that cost their life, in one day, 1,200 people were killed, that there is no

05:48state commission, an independent one, to ask all the right questions, not only to find who's to blame,

05:56but also how to prevent it in the future. The more the government rejects the idea,

06:01the more people are suspicious that they have something to hide.

06:06Professor, could the change of government bring, let's say, a meaningful shift in Israel's policy

06:12towards Gaza, towards the West Bank, and now also towards the war and the possible escalation of

06:19Israel-U.S. war on Iran?

06:21A new government will bring change if it's formed by the opposition parties. What we'll have to look

06:30after a government is forming is the trajectory in which direction a new government is taking

06:38when it comes to the Israel democracy. I think it's a big question whether in parties that represent

06:45a Palestinian citizen of Israel, only as the Arab parties are going to be included in such a government.

06:54If it cooperates more with the Board of Peace when it comes to Gaza, negotiate with the Lebanese government

07:01on funding security, but also beyond this arrangement in Lebanon that Israel can withdraw, there's so many

07:09issues. And of course, the core issue is the Palestinian issue. A two-state solution is not going to happen

07:16overnight. But if we start seeing steps towards, is the harshness and oppressive nature of the occupation

07:25towards a political solution?

07:28There is a growing speculation about the renewed military action against Iran after the U.S. midterm

07:34elections on the 3rd of November. How realistic do you see that prospect? And would a change of government

07:40in Israel make any meaningful difference to this approach?

07:44If there is a new government, one would expect to reconsider if the only way to move forward is by

07:51using

07:52military force. It's also a week after the election in Israel that the midterm in the United States, and between

08:03the two,

08:03it can determine whether the war in Iran resumed or not, that there is no new government in Israel the

08:11day after the election.

08:13It might take weeks and months, and in the time in between, Netanyahu is in the government as an interim

08:20government

08:20with exactly the same composition of the government, and at the same time, though not elected, with all the power

08:30including to go to war. It's making it more volatile and more dangerous.

08:35Do you see Netanyahu trying to push for another attack on Iran after the U.S. midterm elections?

08:43I think we're entitled to be suspicious of the real motivation of Netanyahu, because his policies are very much

08:51intertwined with his corruption trial and retaining power. So creating a crisis is not beyond the realm of

09:00possibility, including with Iran. At the same time, in such a volatile regions, such as the Middle East,

09:08with so many fronts still open, you can manufacture crisis in different places.

09:16Sascha Vakulina speaking to Yossi Mekkelberg. Thank you very much. And now to something completely different,

09:23and for this we come back to Brussels. The EU's climate chief, Robke Hoekstra, sat down with our Europe editor,

09:30Maria Tadeo, as the European Commission prepares new rules requiring member states to put climate resilience

09:37plans in place, following a devastating summer of wildfires across Europe. Let's take a look.

09:44Well, we do congratulate him. And of course, with any democratically elected government, we will always work together.

09:51What is true is that with this specific government, and particularly also myself with Minister Marina da Silva,

09:59we have worked exceptionally well together in the domain of international climate diplomacy, in the domain of carbon markets.

10:06And the Brazilians have done a lot of work in terms of, you know, maintaining the rainforest,

10:12which is something that is hugely important for them, but frankly speaking, for all of us.

10:17And let's talk about today, because you are presenting a climate package.

10:22We understand it will include also a piece of legislation.

10:26Tell us what's in it and what difference this is going to make.

10:29Because obviously, if you connect the dots, this is, I presume, coming largely in response to the major wildfires.

10:34Maybe you need first about that. Why? Because this was an absolutely horrible summer with dramatic impact in terms of

10:42people who have lost their lives,

10:44in terms of livelihoods being destroyed, houses being demolished and and areas just have been burned down.

10:52And then the economic impact has been north of 100 billion.

10:55And yet, even though this was the hottest ever, if you and I look back in, let's say, another 10

11:01years,

11:01it probably will have been the coolest of the upcoming decade.

11:05So there's a huge imperative to not only continue with mitigation, electrification,

11:11but also stand on that other lack of resilience and adaptation.

11:14And to that point, what are you going to be presenting in just a few hours from now?

11:18What are you going to be presenting?

11:19We're also going to come up with legislation where we make it mandatory to point out in your government,

11:25whether it is local, regional or national, who is responsible.

11:29That's a new element in this package.

11:31Indeed. And the last thing you would want as a citizen,

11:34after your area or your house has been demolished because of a wildfire or a flood,

11:41is see politicians who are fighting about who actually was responsible.

11:46How are you going to enforce that?

11:47Because one of the things that we saw over the summer was a lot of political bickering.

11:51Because we're putting this into legislation.

11:52And how do you enforce it?

11:53It is exactly because of what you were just saying,

11:56that this is one of the things that has gone wrong in the past that we're going to change it.

12:00I'll give you another element that we're changing also in the legislation.

12:04We want to make sure that the climate scenarios are being taken into account

12:10when you build a new bridge or a new neighborhood or a new road,

12:15because it matters if you prepare for the climate as it used to be 10 years ago,

12:21or whether you prep for what is ahead of us.

12:24But will you have a reference number?

12:27Are you looking at, is it a two degrees?

12:30Is it a three degrees?

12:31What does this number look like?

12:32If you're looking for a reference number, it would be the three.

12:35Okay.

12:36Three degrees.

12:37Even though we do want to make sure we're also flexible,

12:40because no one knows exactly what the future holds.

12:46And whatever we do, we're going to base it on the best available sign.

12:49What about the money?

12:50Where is this adaptation?

12:52How do you finance it?

12:53Because I hear also the European Parliament tax the energy companies.

12:56They are making a killer out of energy prices going up.

13:00Put a windfall tax as soon as possible.

13:03They should pay.

13:04Should they pay?

13:05A complicated question.

13:08And it is something that national governments can already do.

13:11But are you in favor?

13:12What I mean, what I'm in favor is doing something that works.

13:16And we know that windfall profits can be hunted down by national governments.

13:21The reality is that at a European level, you can only do that if all 27 agree.

13:26And we're not there yet.

13:31Maria Thaddeus speaking to EU Climate Commissioner Wapke Hoekstra.

13:35Now, Hungary's former Prime Minister Viktor Orban might be in the running for the top job

13:41with the United Nations, at least according to the Wall Street Journal.

13:45The U.S. newspaper reported that Washington is floating the idea of nominating Orban

13:50for the post of U.N. Secretary General with the support of Russia and China.

13:56Our Hungary correspondent, Shandor Shiroz, is joining me in the studio now to discuss this story.

14:01Good morning, Shandor.

14:02Good morning, Stefan.

14:03So, what the heck is going on here?

14:05When I first heard about it yesterday, I thought it was a joke.

14:08Well, me too, actually.

14:10And it's a quite crazy and surreal story, to be honest.

14:14I was very much surprised yesterday when I first heard it.

14:17Because simply, Orban is one of the most divisive politicians of Europe.

14:23He's very controversial.

14:25He was considered in Europe largely as a troublemaker, not someone who is a bridge builder or who would make

14:33consensus.

14:34But this story is not completely without logic, I would say.

14:38Because, you know, Orban had very close ties to Trump, to Putin, to Xi Jinping.

14:43So, I could imagine these three major powers supporting him for the candidacy.

14:49And there is an additional element.

14:51Because, you know, the current Hungarian authorities are going after very hardly former Orban-era politicians

14:59related to corruption issues.

15:01Two former Orban-era ministers are jailed now for fraud and corruption.

15:06Also, the former governor of the Hungarian National Bank is jailed now for fraud.

15:13And, you know, many people are speculating maybe Orban is next.

15:17So, the thinking might be that with a top UN job, he might get immunity, diplomatic immunity,

15:24which might be very handy for him.

15:26And honestly, after this huge electoral defeat in Hungary this April, he's, according to many people inside his Fidesz party,

15:36he's looking for a way out from the Hungarian politics.

15:40So, this could be eventually a way forward for him.

15:43Yeah, I see where this is going.

15:44I mean, my question is, is there a real chance he could end up with a top job?

15:50Well, that's a very good question.

15:52Honestly, I don't think so, but we will have to see.

15:55Nevertheless, one diplomat talking to the Wall Street Journal said that, you know,

16:00this idea sounds crazy, but when these three superpowers are lining up behind somebody,

16:08then this candidate could have a good chance.

16:11We will have to see.

16:12But on the substance, how this process will go,

16:16all of the permanent members of the UN's National Security Council have vetoes.

16:22And I don't see, like, France or the United Kingdom would approve Orbán,

16:29who has a very bad track record when it comes to dealing with those two countries.

16:34So, eventually, we will have to see.

16:37I don't know.

16:38But in itself that if Trump and Xi Jinping and, you know,

16:43Putin is thinking about changing how the UN looks like completely

16:48and putting forward the name of Orbán, who is really a divisive figure,

16:53to change the United Nations, this is a message in itself saying that,

17:00OK, we need to get rid of the United Nations as citizens to do something completely different.

17:06Yeah.

17:06What a story.

17:07You know what, Sander?

17:08I think you and I should be considered first here.

17:11Well, I would go for you.

17:13Thank you very much, Sander, for your reporting.

17:16And that's it for today.

17:19I'm Stefan Grobe and I'll see you tomorrow.

Europe Today: Israel votes on Netanyahu's future as Orbán is floated for UN chief

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