Hungary Stalls Sweden's NATO Bid with Parliamentary Boycott
Hungary's Parliament failed to vote on Sweden's NATO membership application on Monday due to a boycott by lawmakers from the ruling Fidesz party, currently the only obstacle to Sweden's accession.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban has publicly supported Sweden's bid, stating his intention to convince party members to do the same. However, in a rare display of dissent, Fidesz parliamentarians did not attend the session, preventing the necessary quorum for voting.
"The absence of the ruling party effectively stalled the process," reported the BBC. "This puts additional strain on relations between Hungary and its NATO allies, particularly the United States."
The US embassy in Hungary previously reminded Orban of his pledge to ratify Sweden's membership "at the earliest opportunity," highlighting the missed opportunity presented by Monday's session.
Fidesz responded by suggesting a visit from the Swedish Prime Minister to Budapest as a potential catalyst for progress. Whether this represents a genuine shift in stance or a strategic move remains unclear.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
