Opposition is relocated
Orban’s party boycotts meeting on Sweden’s NATO accession
February 5, 2024, 7:56 p.m
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Hungary’s prime minister has been thumbing his nose at Sweden for some time now when it comes to the country’s desire to join NATO. MPs from Orban’s Fidesz party are now demonstratively staying away when parliament meets to vote on inclusion in the defense alliance.
Due to a boycott by the ruling party, a special session in the Hungarian parliament scheduled by the opposition on Sweden’s accession to NATO has been postponed. Out of 199 MPs, only 51 voted on the agenda, which is why the meeting had to be adjourned. With the exception of the deputy speaker of the parliament, Sandor Lezsak, the members of the national conservative Fidesz party stayed away from the meeting.
Politicians from almost all opposition parties had pushed for rapid ratification of Sweden’s application for membership. Agnes Vadai from the largest opposition party accused Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban of delaying the vote because of his “personal vanity.” She said he wanted to “make headlines in the international press” and send a signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin by destabilizing NATO and the EU.
According to the US Embassy in Budapest, the parliamentary session on Monday took place in the presence of US Ambassador David Pressman and representatives of 14 other NATO countries. The United States reminded Orban in a statement on Friday of his promise to act on Sweden’s accession to NATO “at the earliest possible opportunity.” The parliamentary session this Monday is such an opportunity, it said.
Next vote at the end of February
In response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, traditionally non-aligned Sweden applied for NATO membership together with its neighboring country Finland in May 2022. Finland was able to join the military alliance in April, while Sweden had to wait because of the blockades by Turkey and Hungary. At the end of January, Ankara ultimately gave the green light for Swedish accession.
Shortly afterwards, Orban invited Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to Budapest for discussions on the issue. Although he accepted the invitation, he rejected any “negotiations” and “demands” regarding his country’s accession to NATO. The Hungarian government coalition stated that it wanted to wait for the Swedish Prime Minister to visit before ratification.
The Hungarian Parliament will meet for its next session on February 26th. Then, subject to Orban’s approval, ratification of Sweden’s application for membership would be possible.