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Agence France-Presse

Hungary’s ruling party on Monday boycotted a parliament session on Sweden’s Nato membership, postponing a vote by the last alliance member to approve the expansion of the alliance despite US pressure.
Hungary has maintained close ties with Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and while it has said it supports the Swedish bid in principle, it has been dragging its feet for months.
The United States has ramped up pressure on Hungary to ratify Stockholm’s bid.
On Friday, the US embassy reminded Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban in a statement that he promised to act “at the first opportunity” and “Monday’s session provides him with one”.

Co-chairs of the US Senate’s Nato Observer Group warned that “both time and patience are wearing thin”.
US ambassador David Pressman was present in the viewing gallery during Monday’s parliamentary session along with envoys from 14 other Nato countries, a US embassy spokesperson told Agence France-Presse.
But the sitting was adjourned due to the lack of a quorum. Out of 199 MPs, only 51 voted on the agenda as almost all members of Orban’s Fidesz-KDNP ruling coalition – except for presiding deputy speaker Sandor Lezsak – stayed away.
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Politicians from almost all opposition parties have urged a speedy ratification and condemned the governing majority for not attending.
Orban is delaying the vote because of his “personal vanity”, Agnes Vadai from the biggest opposition party told Agence France-Presse.
She accused the Hungarian premier of seeking to “make headlines in the international press, while making a gesture to Russian President Vladimir Putin by undermining the unity of Nato and the EU”.
The far-right Our Homeland party argued against accepting Sweden’s Nato bid.
Orban has invited his Swedish counterpart, Ulf Kristersson to Hungary, citing the need to “build strong mutual trust” through “more intense political dialogue”.
The Swedish leader accepted the invitation but rejected the idea of “negotiations” and “demands” concerning the country’s bid to join Nato.
Turkey formally ratifies Sweden’s Nato membership
The ruling coalition signalled that it was “waiting for the Swedish Prime Minister to visit Hungary” before they finish ratification.
“If this is an important issue for the Swedes, the Swedish Prime Minister will obviously come to Budapest,” Fidesz wrote in a statement sent to Agence France-Presse.
Parliament is expected to reconvene on February 26 and ratification could take place quickly once it has received Orban’s approval.
Turkey’s parliament last month ratified Sweden’s Nato membership after more than a year of delays that upset Western efforts to show resolve in the face of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Nato membership applications require unanimous ratification by all alliance members.


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Nato

Hungary ruling party boycotts parliament session on Swedish Nato bid, postponing vote

Members of parliament attend the extraordinary session of the Hungarian parliament on the ratification of Sweden’s Nato membership in Budapest, Hungary on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Hungarian President Viktor Orban. Photo: Le Pictorium via Zuma Press / dpa

Turkey formally ratifies Sweden’s Nato membership, Hungary only ally yet to endorse bid

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left)  shakes hands with Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (right), as Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg looks on. Photo: Pool Photo via AP

Turkey finally approves Sweden’s Nato bid, leaving Hungary as holdout

Polish, Swedish, Finnish and Nato flags are seen on the Polish Navy frigate ORP Kosciuszko in Gdynia in July 2023. Photo: AFP

Turkish lawmakers in parliament in Ankara follow the debate over Sweden’s bid to join Nato on Tuesday. Photo: AP

People shout slogans during a protest against the Sweden’s Nato membership in Istanbul, Turkey on Tuesday. Photo: AP

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European Parliament President Roberta Metsola (left), Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and European Council President Charles Michel react as they arrive for a European Council meeting to discuss aid to Ukraine. Photo: AFP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the new aid deal shows strong EU unity. Photo: Dario Pignatelli/European Council/dpa/File

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban thwarted an aid package for Ukraine in December. Photo: AFP

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Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Photo: AFP

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World

Europe

Hungary has maintained close ties with Russia since Ukraine invasion and has been dragging its feet for months on Nato bid
On Monday only 51 out of 199 MPs voted on the agenda as almost all members of PM Viktor Orban’s ruling coalition stayed away


On Monday only 51 out of 199 MPs voted on the agenda as almost all members of PM Viktor Orban’s ruling coalition stayed away. Hungary maintains close ties with Russia.
