Why is Hungary dragging on to ratify the entry of Finland and Sweden into NATO?

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán speaks on the opening day of the spring session of Parliament in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, February 27, 2023. AP - Szilard Koszticsak

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2 mins

On Wednesday March 1, the Parliament of Budapest began the debate on NATO membership of Finland and Sweden.

For these two countries to be admitted, all member states of the Atlantic Alliance must ratify.

But Hungary is the only member state of the European Union not to have done so.

Parliament is expected to vote by the end of March.

Why is it taking so long?

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With our correspondent in Budapest,

Florence La Bruyère

The Hungarian Prime Minister, nationalist Viktor Orbán, has been insisting for months that his majority will soon ratify the accession of the two Nordic countries, but the vote has been repeatedly postponed, due to the so-called agenda very responsible for the Magyar Parliament.

" 

The time has come to confirm the membership of Finland and Sweden

", even declared with a touch of impatience the Secretary General of NATO, the Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg.

At the opening of the parliamentary session on Wednesday, Viktor Orbán encouraged the deputies of his party, which has the majority in Parliament, to give the green light to the accession of the Scandinavian countries.

“ 

Their entry into NATO does not endanger the security of Europe or that of Hungary.

NATO protects us

 ,” he said.

Revenge on Stockholm and Helsinki?

According to a right-wing politician, the Prime Minister's majority is divided on the issue.

It is unlikely, as Viktor Orbán leads his party with an iron fist.

The Hungarian right is a party of boots;

deputies generally vote as one.

So why this sham debate?

Probably because the Orbán government, which has come much closer to the head of the Kremlin and the Turkish president in recent years, does not want to offend either of them.

Moreover, in exchange for the green light from Hungary, Viktor Orbán would seek to obtain concessions from Brussels.

Finally, if Hungary drags its feet, it is to take revenge on Finland and Sweden.

The governments of these two countries kept spreading lies, saying that there was no democracy in Hungary.

So why would we hurry to vote on their entry into NATO? Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in substance.

► To read also: The Finnish Parliament approves in advance the entry into NATO

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