(Reuters): Hungarian MP warns of potential delay in Sweden’s NATO application
The parliament speaker told local television late on Sunday that Hungary is not sure if it needs to approve Sweden’s application to join NATO, perhaps indicating further delays.
Since July 2022, Hungary’s approval has been stuck in parliament due to concerns about criticism of Hungary’s democratic decline from Swedish parties.
According to parliament speaker Laszlo Kover, a senior member of the ruling Fidesz party, “It is not sure we need to approve this bid,” he was referring to Sweden.
His comments follow a letter Hungary’s foreign minister wrote to his Swedish counterpart last week in which he again raised concerns over what he called “biased and unfair” accusations by some Swedish politicians against the Hungarian government.
Sweden applied for NATO membership last year in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and most alliance members quickly ratified its bid.
Turkey and Hungary, however, have yet to ratify Sweden’s bid, and both countries have said they closely coordinating their stance on the matter.
Later this month, the Hungarian parliament will reassemble, but it is not yet known if a discussion and vote on the Swedish ratification will be on the schedule.