The green light from Turkey obtained not without difficulty, the fate of Stockholm now finds itself hanging on the goodwill of Hungary. And above all, its Prime Minister Viktor Orban. For several months, Budapest has been reluctant to ratify Sweden’s accession to NATO, slowed down by Ankara’s endless demands.
In question, the policy of “denigration” that the Nordic country would exercise against the Hungarian regime. And which would tend to annoy Viktor Orban who has little taste for authoritarianism trials. Hungary has the right to “first demand respect from Sweden”, thundered the Hungarian Prime Minister last September. This, however, while committing not to be the last of the 31 NATO member countries to obstruct membership.
The invitation remained a dead letter
So a broken promise. And which explains that as soon as Turkey’s approval was given on Tuesday January 23, Viktor Orban hastened to invite his counterpart to Budapest “in order to discuss Sweden’s entry into the Atlantic Alliance”. Jostled by NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, who urges Hungary to complete its “national ratification” “as quickly as possible”. And by his internal political opponents, who call on him to “put an end to this senseless charade, which considerably harms the image of Hungary”.
But that same evening, the Hungarian Prime Minister was refused. “I see no reason to negotiate today,” replied the Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs. And Tobias Billstöm recalled that Hungary granted Sweden “guest status” during the Madrid summit which was held in June 2022.
The fact remains that without the unanimity of NATO member countries, no accession talks can begin. Ratification by Hungary is in fact necessary for Sweden, which submitted its candidacy in May 2022. This is why the Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday evening that he was open to “discussions”. Especially since “we will soon form a broader concept by becoming allies (within) NATO. We can talk, from State to State, about what this will mean”.
The Hungarian political class divided
Whether with the aim of obtaining concessions from Brussels which is still blocking part of Hungarian funds, or with the aim of not hurting its relations with Vladimir Putin, it is a safe bet that Viktor Orban will not take long to follow suit. not to its Turkish ally. Pressed in particular by his internal political opponents who are calling on him to “put an end to this senseless charade, which considerably harms the image of Hungary”.
During a telephone call this Wednesday, January 24, the Hungarian Prime Minister recalled that he still supports Sweden’s membership in NATO. And to promise from his X account (formerly Twitter) to “continue to call on Parliament to complete the ratification at the first possible opportunity”. Enough to reassure the members of the Alliance, witness to the Hungarian leader’s propensity to block, particularly in the matter of European aid to Ukraine.
Especially since Orban’s invitation may have appeared as an outstretched hand, all the signals were not green. Last September, the Hungarian Prime Minister notably considered that there was “no urgency” to ratify Sweden’s accession to NATO. A position supported by the most right wing of Parliament. “I wonder if there is something urgent that would force us to ratify Sweden’s candidacy. I do not see such circumstances,” declared the nationalist leader, opening the autumn session.
No date set in Parliament
This Tuesday, the pro-Orban media Mandine notably portrayed Sweden as a “partner of European blackmail” which “demands a blood pact without making any gesture in return”. A speech echoing that of Hungarian President Katalin Novák who declared last November that Sweden had “shown no interest in convincing parliamentarians [hongrois]”. The head of state, however, encouraged the Hungarian Diet “to make a quick and informed decision.”
However, to date, no date has been set to discuss the ratification of Sweden’s membership in NATO. However, the Socialist Party has been demanding for several weeks the convening of an extraordinary session of the Assembly to finally proceed to the vote. But the Prime Minister seems to want to remain master of the clocks.