Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán addressed the public this Friday, reaffirming Hungary’s position on Sweden’s potential entry into NATO. He attributed any delay to the Hungarian Parliament, where the governing party Fidesz holds an absolute majority, yet has not formally approved the move. Orbán emphasized that the government has already decided in favor of Sweden joining NATO and the European Union, and he confirmed that Hungary supports Sweden’s participation, even as parliamentary approval remains outstanding.
In further remarks, the government stated that it has also decided in support of Sweden’s accession to the European Union. Orbán noted that while Budapest backs Sweden’s entry, the Parliament has not yet granted final approval. He suggested that the decision-making process in Hungary must proceed without unnecessary hold-ups.
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When asked whether Hungary’s ratification might wait until September after the summer recess, Orbán said he remained in regular contact with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and with Turkish officials. He stressed that Hungary intends to act in a way that avoids delaying critical decisions.
Stoltenberg has invited Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to meet in the coming days with the aim of sealing a deal before NATO’s eleventh summit in Lithuania.
Hungary and Turkey are currently the only NATO members that have expressed reservations about Sweden’s accession, a process Sweden has pursued for more than a year. The stance has evolved over time as political and legal considerations have shifted.
Historically, the Hungarian position has been explained with references to the Parliament’s workload and the conditions attached to legal reforms linked to EU funds. At the end of 2022, officials cited the Parliament’s focus on reforms deemed necessary to access funds blocked by the European Commission.
Subsequent arguments from the Hungarian government suggested concerns about the quality of the rule of law in Hungary as raised by Sweden and Finland. Analysts have offered interpretations that the veto may serve as leverage to prompt the European Union to unfreeze funds, contingent on showing how Hungary would use them in line with EU standards.
Ultimately, observers say the situation illustrates the delicate balance among ally commitments, internal legislative dynamics, and the broader negotiations surrounding the EU’s fiscal and political cohesion. The debates continue as allies seek clarity on timelines, reform guarantees, and the strategic implications for NATO’s unity in the region. [citation: NATO briefings and Hungarian government statements compiled by regional policy observers.]