It looks like there will be no Swedish NATO membership by the summer.
Hungary has postponed the vote until autumn, AP reports.
– Most likely this is something that happens in agreement with Turkey, says TV4 Nyheternas Middle East correspondent Terese Cristiansson.
Hungary postpones the vote on Sweden’s NATO application until the fall, reports AP.
Several members of parliament have announced that the vote will be postponed. It therefore looks like Sweden will have to wait to become members of alliances.
Agnes Vadai, parliamentarian in the Hungarian opposition, writes on Facebook that the ruling party in the country will not schedule a vote before the parliament’s summer break.
Additional parliamentarians have confirmed information, according to the news agency.
“If it’s true, it’s the death blow”
For Sweden to become a member, all 31 member states must vote yes in their respective parliaments. In mid-July, the alliance will hold a summit in Vilnius. The Swedish hope has previously been that Hungary and Turkey will approve Sweden before then.
– If this is true, it is the death knell for the government’s goal that Sweden should join NATO in connection with the summit in Vilnius, says TV4 Nyhetern’s domestic policy commentator Ann Tiberg.
Although the straw for Swedish membership this summer will be shorter, the government has not given up hope, according to Ann Tiberg.
– This is information from individual members of parliament, it is not confirmed by Hungary. A source close to Ulf Kristersson in the government takes note of that matter. For the government, the glass is still half full. People still believe that it will be possible to find negotiation solutions that will allow Sweden to attend the NATO summit, she says.
“Most likely in agreement with Turkey”
Turkey and Hungary are the only two countries that have not yet approved Sweden’s application.
TV4 Nyheternas Middle East correspondent Terese Cristiansson believes that Hungary and Turkey have held talks on the question of Swedish membership.
– Most likely this is something that happens in agreement with Turkey, because they want to stay on good terms with each other, she says.
According to her, the news is surprising.
– What we have seen in recent days from Turkey’s side is that Erdogan is still hostile to Sweden and NATO membership, not least today with the Koran burning. It has been felt that it is imminent that there will be no membership in Vilnius because of Turkey, but now Hungary is ahead. It takes some of the burden off Turkey, she says.