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Today, Hungary is expected to approve Sweden’s NATO application.
Here are today’s key points – and what is expected to happen next.
After many toss and buts, Hungary’s parliament will today vote on Sweden’s NATO application.
The vote is the third item on the Hungarian parliament’s agenda, and they are expected to vote yes. The vote is expected to take place sometime between 4 and 6 pm today. Here are today’s meeting times in the parliament.
Orbán opens parliament
13.00 Parliament reconvenes after the winter recess. The first item on the agenda is that Prime Minister Orbán gives an opening speech about the government’s priorities in the spring.
13.45 Speeches from the Parliament’s nine party groups. Orbán has the right to reply to every speech.
President resigns after pedophile scandal
15.30 Outgoing President Novák submits his resignation. She is resigning after she was accused of pardoning a man convicted of being involved in a pedophile scandal. Parliament votes to approve this. This is item two on the agenda.
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full screenUlf Kristersson and Viktor Orbán. Photo: Denes Erdos / TT News Agency
Vote on Sweden
Between approximately 16.00 and 18.00 the vote on Sweden is expected to take place. Either the parliament goes directly to the vote, or the party groups give speeches first. If there are new speeches, it can take 90 minutes.
If the parliament votes yes, Hungary’s interim president Kövér will have five days to sign the decision.
Fly to the USA
The document with the decision is sent by air to Washington and handed over to the US State Department.
Stoltenberg invites Sweden
Once Hungary has ratified Sweden’s application, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will invite Sweden to join NATO.
A Swedish representative, probably Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M), or Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M), signs the accession document.
Sweden is in NATO
The document is handed over to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. When he received the document, Sweden was a member of NATO. Then Sweden’s flag is raised outside the NATO headquarters in Brussels, between Spain and Turkey’s flag.