Top Hungarian politician: "We support Sweden in NATO"

The Hungarian parliament is expected to make a decision later in March to approve Sweden's NATO membership.

Ahead of that decision, Hungarian parliamentarians met today with the Speaker of the Riksdag.

- The meeting was warm and friendly, aimed at the future and gives a perspective on a new start, says Hende.

- We made it clear that the Hungarian government, the Hungarian president, the prime minister and most of the Hungarian parliamentarians clearly support Swedish NATO membership.

"Spreading lies"

However, Hende added that it is necessary to improve Sweden's and Hungary's bilateral relations.

- It would be desirable that Swedish politicians, government representatives and members of the EU Parliament, based on completely untrue facts, do not indicate or imply that there is a lack of rule of law in a country.

TT: Doesn't Hungary have problems with the rule of law, the rights of LGBTQ people and the freedom of the media?

- I don't see such problems, but everything can of course be discussed.

But you shouldn't spread lies.

To a direct question about Swedish politicians spreading lies about Hungary, Hende replies: "Yes, I think so."

Over in a few weeks

The Hungarian delegation was received by Speaker Andreas Norlén at 9 o'clock. They had an hour booked to discuss the Hungarian ratification process.

Hungary and Turkey are the only NATO countries whose parliaments have not yet approved Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has called on his party colleagues in Fidesz to say yes to the membership of the two Nordic countries.

Voting is expected to take place around March 20.

Hende says that the debate in the Hungarian parliament is in full swing and that Sweden's NATO membership is supported by all parties except one.

-If everything goes well, such a debate will be over in a few weeks.

The text is updated