BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) 鈥 Lawmakers from the party of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb谩n boycotted an emergency session of parliament on Monday where a vote was scheduled to place Sweden's bid to join NATO on the legislative agenda, adding to 18 months of delays that have angered Hungary's allies.
The governing Fidesz party, which holds an absolute majority in parliament, has stalled Sweden鈥檚 bid since July 2022, have told 鈥渂latant lies鈥 about the condition of Hungary鈥檚 democracy.
After Turkey's parliament in January, Hungary became the last of the military alliance's 31 members not to have done so, leading its allies to pressure the nationalist government to hold a vote without delay. Orb谩n told NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg last month that he would urge his party to ratify the bid 鈥渁t the first possible opportunity.鈥
Monday's session in parliament was supported by six opposition parties, but Fidesz lawmakers didn't attend, scuttling the attempt to place a vote on the legislature's schedule.
Several ambassadors from NATO member countries attended the proceedings, including U.S. Ambassador David Pressman. In brief comments to the media following the session, Pressman said that the United States looks forward to "watching this closely and to Hungary acting expeditiously.鈥
"Sweden鈥檚 NATO accession is an issue that directly affects the United States' national security and affects the security of our alliance as a whole," he said. 鈥淭he prime minister pledged to convene parliament to urge parliament to act at its earliest opportunity. Today was an opportunity to do that.鈥
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers last week Sweden's bid, saying patience with Hungary is 鈥渨earing thin鈥 as it continues to delay its approval.
In a separate statement, U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, a Maryland Democrat and chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, raised the prospect of imposing sanctions on Hungary for its conduct, and called Orb谩n 鈥渢he least reliable member of NATO.鈥
Following the session on Monday, Agnes Vadai, a lawmaker with the liberal Democratic Coalition party, said that Orb谩n's conduct has 鈥減ut Hungary into a very humiliating position,鈥 and that there was 鈥渘o reason鈥 for his government to have blocked Sweden's NATO membership.
鈥淚 think that it鈥檚 very personal for Orb谩n, and it鈥檚 also very irrational what is he doing despite all the pressure that鈥檚 coming,鈥 she told The Associated Press. 鈥淗e himself should understand that (Sweden's membership) is going to serve the interests and the security of the Hungarian society.鈥
Hungarian officials have indicated that Fidesz lawmakers won't support holding a vote until Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson accepts an invitation by Orb谩n to visit Budapest to negotiate on the matter. Kristersson has said that he will make the trip, but only after Hungary approves his country's NATO membership.
Fidesz said in a statement on Monday that ratification of Sweden鈥檚 NATO accession can take place during a regular session of parliament, 鈥渂ut we are expecting the Swedish prime minister to visit Hungary first.鈥
鈥淚f this is an important issue for the Swedes, the Swedish prime minister will obviously come to Budapest,鈥 the party said.
Hungary's parliament is scheduled to reconvene on Feb. 26. But Vadai, the lawmaker, said that there was no guarantee that Orb谩n's party would commit to a swift approval.
鈥淚鈥檓 not sure whether the opening session will start with the Swedish ratification, unfortunately,鈥 she said.
