Hungary seeks to prevent EU from extending sanctions on Russia

　　Reference News Network reported on September 19 that according to a Reuters report from Budapest on September 16, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán expects EU leaders to meet in the autumn on extending sanctions against Russia, Radio Free Europe quoted unnamed sources as saying. Consultations, Budapest will try to prevent this action.

　　Radio Free Europe said on its website that Orban was harshly critical of EU sanctions against Russia, speaking at a closed-door party meeting last week.

　　Radio Free Europe, citing unnamed sources, said Orbán saw little chance of preventing sanctions from being extended for another six months, but said he hoped Italy's new government would give the effort a boost.

According to the report, this appears to be a reference to Giorgia Meloni, who is likely to become the next Italian prime minister after elections this month.

Her Italian fraternal party has close ties to Orbán.

　　Orban said in July that the European Union’s ill-considered economic sanctions on Russia would be tantamount to shooting itself in the lung and risk destroying the European economy unless the sanctions are lifted.

　　According to a report from the Associated Press Belgrade on September 16, in response to the European Parliament’s claim that Hungary is no longer considered a “complete democracy”, Hungarian Prime Minister Orban fired on the 16th, slamming the resolution as “purely a joke.”

　　"I found it interesting," Orban said during a meeting with Serbian President Vucic in Belgrade.

　　He said: "The only reason we don't laugh at it is because we are sick of it. It's a silly joke. This is the third or fourth time they have passed a resolution condemning Hungary in the European Parliament. At first, we also Thought it was important. But now, we see it as a joke."

　　The report believes that the vote on the resolution is the latest showdown by EU institutions against the Orban government.

The European Commission is expected to announce on Sunday that it is preparing to suspend some EU payments to Hungary due to alleged violations.

　　Orban also reiterated his criticism of EU sanctions against Russia.

"When I look at energy sanctions, I see us Europeans - some 'energy gnomes' - imposing sanctions on an energy giant," Orban said.