After the failed vote in Hungary’s parliament, the governing party Fidesz announced that it demands that Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson travel to Sweden.
The Hungarian member of parliament and vice president of the opposition party Democratic Coalition, Ágnes Vadai, tells in an interview for TV4 Nyheterna that she is upset with how the Hungarian government has handled the issue of Sweden’s NATO membership.
– I don’t see how a visit by the Swedish Prime Minister to Sweden would change anything. He and Orbán were both in Brussels recently and could have talked there, says Ágnes Vadai and continues:
– We have already discussed Sweden’s NATO application, there is no need to discuss more, we just need to vote.
“A series of embarrassing explanations”
The Hungarian parliament held an extra session on Monday at the request of the opposition. The idea was to vote on Sweden’s NATO application – something that could not be carried out as the government party Fidesz and the cooperation party KDNP did not show up.
From the Hungarian government, there have been several different offers regarding Sweden’s application. From not being last, to voting as soon as possible, to the fact that there was no rush.
– We have seen a series of embarrassing explanations for why Sweden’s application has been postponed, says Ágnes Vadai.
She believes that the whole situation is “irrational” and that it is also about vanity on the Prime Minister’s part.
– Orbán’s devotion to the Putin system puts Hungary in a terrible situation, where we are marginalized in NATO and the last to approve Sweden.
Ágnes Vadai, opposition politician in Hungary.
Ágnes Vadai, opposition politician in Hungary. Photo: Photo: DKP
“It’s petty and stubborn”
That Sweden’s application is delayed does not only upset the politicians in the opposition. Even ordinary Hungarians question why a vote was not carried out.
– There is no reasonable, acceptable explanation for this delay, none at all. I don’t understand it. It’s stupid, it’s petty and stubborn, Budapest resident Erzsebet Kertesz told Reuters.
Geza Dobak, also living in Budapest, describes the handling of the issue as a great shame. He also questions the fact that it has long been said that Hungary would not be the last to approve Sweden.
– Now that’s how it’s turned out anyway, we’re the last ones.
Don’t believe in another extra session
Opposition politician Ágnes Vadai does not believe that there will be any more extra sessions like today’s before parliament reopens on February 26. When the parliament opens at the end of the month, she hopes that it will be possible to carry out a vote.
– At the same time, you never know what will happen. Look at Orbán’s behavior, he can change his mind and several people can make him change his mind, just like in Brussels last week says Ágnes Vadai and refers to how Orbán turned around on the issue of support for Ukraine