Fidesz, the majority party in the Hungarian Parliament, yesterday boycotted a House session called by the opposition to ratify Sweden’s entry into NATO. The session was attended by the United States ambassador to Hungary and other members of the diplomatic corps. The decision of the party led by Viktor Orbán means postponing a possible new vote on the issue for at least another fifteen days.
For months, the Hungarian prime minister has repeatedly promised his NATO partners that Hungary would not be the last country to vote for Sweden to join the organization. However, Orbán backed away from that promise after Turkey ratified the Nordic country’s entry into the Atlantic organization last month.
Orbán then promised Jens Stoltenberg, NATO secretary general, that he would urge Parliament to “conclude the ratification process at the first opportunity.” But contrary to the Prime Minister’s promise, Fidesz declared yesterday that this decision would not be possible until his Swedish counterpart, Ulf Kristersson, visits Budapest. “If this is an important issue for the Swedes, the prime minister will come to Budapest,” read a Fidesz statement sent to Reuters yesterday.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto had already stated on Friday that it would be “fair” for Kristersson to visit Budapest before ratification, in the same way that the Swedish leader had previously visited Turkey before that country voted to join.
Neither the Swedish Prime Minister’s office nor the Foreign Ministry wanted to comment yesterday on what happened in the Budapest Parliament.
Viktor Orbán is the leader of the European Union who exhibits better relations with Russia, a country on which he depends from an energy point of view. However, ratification of Sweden’s entry into the military alliance has been blocked in the Hungarian parliament since 2012. Orbán’s obstructionist stance has irritated the United States. The Magyar leader would try to buy time while waiting for a better situation if changes occur in the White House.
Last Thursday, Orbán had to accept, against his initial opposition, that the European Union approved a budget that includes credits for Ukraine worth 50 billion euros.
