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Hungary ruling party insists Swedish premier visit Budapest for NATO talks

Hungary's parliament was scheduled to meet in an extraordinary session to discuss ratification of Sweden's accession but Fidesz lawmakers boycotted the session, further delaying ratification.

AP

Politicians from almost all opposition parties have urged speedy ratification and condemned the governing majority for not attending Monday's session. / Photo: AP

The leader of Hungary's ruling party has said that Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson should agree to meet with his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban in Budapest to secure Stockholm's NATO accession.

"The ratification of Swedish NATO (membership) may take place at the beginning of the regular parliamentary session," Fidesz chief Mate Kocsis said on social media on Monday.

"But for this, the meeting of the two prime ministers in Budapest is required. If it is important for the Swedes to join, they will come here as they went to Türkiye," Kocsis added.

Earlier on Monday, Hungary's ruling party boycotted a parliament session on Sweden's NATO membership, postponing a vote by the last alliance member to approve the expansion of the alliance despite US pressure.

Hungary has maintained close ties with Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and while it has said it supports the Swedish bid in principle, it has been dragging its feet for months.

The United States has ramped up pressure on Hungary to ratify Stockholm's bid.

Hungary politician flags possible delay for Sweden's NATO bid

'Time and patience are wearing thin'

On Friday, the US embassy reminded Orban in a statement that he promised to act "at the first opportunity" and "Monday's session provides him with one".

Co-chairs of the US Senate's NATO Observer Group warned that "both time and patience are wearing thin."

US Ambassador David Pressman was present in the viewing gallery during Monday's parliamentary session along with envoys from 14 other NATO countries, a US embassy spokesperson told AFP news agency.

However, the sitting was adjourned due to the lack of a quorum. Out of 199 MPs, only 51 voted on the agenda as almost all members of Orban's Fidesz-KDNP ruling coalition — except for presiding deputy speaker Sandor Lezsak — stayed away.

Waiting for a leaders' meeting

Orban also has invited Kristersson to Hungary, citing the need to "build strong mutual trust" through "more intense political dialogue".

The Swedish leader accepted the invitation but rejected the idea of "negotiations" and "demands" concerning the country's bid to join NATO.

Parliament is due to reconvene on 26 February, and ratification could take place quickly once it has received Orban's approval.

Politicians from almost all opposition parties have urged speedy ratification and condemned the governing majority for not attending Monday's session.