In Hungary, the parliament is discussing whether Sweden and Finland will join NATO, but nothing is certain.
Budapest – The Hungarian parliament on Wednesday (March 1) began debating Sweden and Finland's accession to NATO.
On behalf of Prime Minister Viktor Orban's right-wing government, State Secretary Peter Sztaray spoke in favor of ratifying the accession protocols.
The vote could take place in the second half of March, according to Parliament's updated session schedule.
The left and liberal opposition have already announced that they want to vote for it.
Within Europe, Hungary has repeatedly played the role of troublemaker with regard to the Ukraine war: only the Hungarian and Turkish commitments are still missing for Finland and Sweden to join NATO.
The accession was formally approved more than eight months ago at a summit meeting in Madrid.
Orban, who maintains good relations with the Kremlin, has spoken out several times in favor of accepting the accession protocols.
However, Orban supports EU sanctions against Russia rather reluctantly.
At the same time, he complained that Sweden, in particular, kept attacking and insulting his country for no reason.
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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban delivers his annual state of the nation address in Budapest February 18, 2023.
© Attila Kisbenedek/AFP
Nato dispute: Orban accuses Sweden of "lying about Hungary".
But even if the discussions in the Hungarian parliament got off to a promising start, there are already signs of upcoming difficulties.
Orban, who has an iron grip on his Fidesz party, said in an interview last Friday (February 24) that "we support the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO in principle, but first we have to have serious discussions".
How, the argument goes, “can someone want to be our ally in a military system while shamelessly spreading lies about Hungary?” said the Hungarian leader, referring to earlier criticisms of Hungary's rule of law from Helsinki and Stockholm.
The two NATO candidates would spread untruths "about democracy, about life" in Hungary.
There is also growing concern in Brussels that the right-wing government in Budapest could try to use the expansion of the defense alliance to obtain concessions – similar to what Turkish President Erdogan has tried to do several times.
Among other things, Turkey has accused Sweden in the past of protecting terrorists from the banned Kurdish Workers' Party PKK from criminal prosecution from Ankara.
NATO enlargement: The growing defense alliance
NATO enlargement: The growing defense alliance
NATO boss Stoltenberg puts pressure on Hungary and Turkey
He hopes that the accession treaties will be ratified soon, said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, referring to the discussions in the Hungarian parliament.
Asked if he was in contact with Budapest on the matter, he replied that it was a decision of sovereign national parliaments, adding: "The time is right.
Finland meets all the criteria, as does Sweden.
So we are working hard on it and our goal is to get it done as soon as possible.”
On Monday (February 27) Stoltenberg visited the Finnish capital Helsinki, where talks on the country's looming NATO accession took center stage.
There, too, he called on both Turkey and Hungary to confirm the Swedish and Finnish applications for membership – and to do so quickly.
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List of rubrics: © Attila Kisbenedek/AFP
