Hungary ruling party boycotts parliament session on Swedish Nato bid, postponing vote
- 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
Co-chairs of the US Senate’s Nato Observer Group warned that “both time and patience are wearing thin”.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Nato membership applications require unanimous ratification by all alliance members.