Well then
Hungarian parliament approves Sweden’s accession to NATO
February 26, 2024, 4:48 p.m
So now it is sealed: After much back and forth, Hungary is the last member country to vote for Sweden to join NATO. Shortly before the vote, Prime Minister Orban assured this project of his support and called Russia an “aggressor”.
The Hungarian Parliament has ratified Sweden’s accession to NATO. This seals the acceptance of the Nordic EU country into the transatlantic alliance as the 32nd member state.
Shortly before the vote, Prime Minister Viktor Orban pledged his support for this project. “Today we will (…) support Sweden’s accession to NATO,” said the right-wing populist politician at the beginning of the plenary session. At the same time, Orban reiterated that he sees “no military solution” to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, but only an end to the war through negotiations.
Orban emphasized that it was important to resolve bilateral disputes before ratifying Sweden’s accession to NATO. This was done “in a dignified manner” by the visit of Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson last Friday. Attempts from outside to intervene in these disputes were not helpful. Hungary is a sovereign state and does not tolerate any outside interference. Orban emphasized that military cooperation agreements had also been concluded “for mutual benefit.” He was referring to agreements for the purchase and maintenance of Swedish Jas 39 Gripen fighter jets, which were signed on Friday during Kristersson’s visit.
Orban maintains good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Nevertheless, he described Russia as an aggressor in the Ukraine conflict this Monday. An end to this war, “in which Russia attacked Ukraine,” must be brought about as soon as possible, he said. Hungary calls for an immediate ceasefire.
On the other hand, Orban’s Fidesz party showed again on Monday that it does not want to take a clear position against Putin. When an opposition representative in the parliamentary plenary asked for a minute’s silence for the Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who recently died in a Russian prison camp, the Fidesz parliamentarians and their coalition party KDNP (Christian Democratic People’s Party) remained seated demonstratively. Only the opposition representatives rose from their seats.