Source: Orbán boycotts parliament session called to ratify Swedish Nato bid | Nato | The Guardian
匈牙利執政黨青民盟抵制了反對派召集批准瑞典加入北約的議會會議，儘管一群西方大使抵達議會敦促投票。 幾個月來，匈牙利總理維克多·歐爾班多次向北約內部同行承諾，該國不會是最後一個批准瑞典加入的國家。 但當土耳其上個月批准瑞典申請時，歐爾班違背了承諾，只剩下匈牙利獨自阻礙斯德哥爾摩的入盟。 週一，包括美國駐布達佩斯大使戴維·普雷斯曼在內的 16 名外交代表抵達匈牙利議會，這是一個具有像徵意義的舉動。 西方官員表示，他們對布達佩斯的決策感到困惑。 他們表示，自瑞典於 2022 年 5 月申請加入以來的許多個月裡，匈牙利沒有就瑞典的申辦提出任何正式反對或要求，但卻不斷推遲批准。
Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party has boycotted a session of parliament called by the opposition to ratify Sweden’s Nato membership, even as a group of western ambassadors arrived in the building to urge a vote.
For months, the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, repeatedly promised his counterparts within Nato that the country would not be last to sign off on Sweden’s membership.
But Orbán reneged on the pledge when Turkey ratified the Swedish bid last month, leaving Hungary alone holding up Stockholm’s accession.
The Hungarian leader then publicly promised Nato’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, that he would urge parliament to “conclude the ratification at the first possible opportunity” – only to also abandon that pledge by not showing up to a session initiated by the country’s opposition with the aim of voting on Sweden’s accession.
In a symbolic move, a group of 16 diplomatic representatives, including the American ambassador in Budapest, David Pressman, arrived at Hungary’s parliament on Monday.
Pressman, who in an interview with the Guardian last month described Washington as “disappointed” by Budapest’s failure to act, told reporters after the session: “Sweden’s Nato accession is an issue that directly affects the United States national security and it affects the security of our alliance as a whole.”
“The prime minister pledged to convene parliament and urge parliament to act at its earliest opportunity. Today was an opportunity to do that – and we look forward to watching this closely and to Hungary acting expeditiously,” the American diplomat added.
The Hungarian delay has deeply frustrated western officials, who have expressed concern both about the length of delays and the lack of clarity over the reasoning behind Hungary’s moves.
“With our presence today, we wanted to show our solidarity with Sweden, and the Swedish ambassador in Budapest, in their pursuit of joining Nato in such a difficult and demanding time for the world. We hope that this will happen as soon as possible,” said a senior European diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.
“We didn’t know which parties will be present during the session, so the only message we wanted to show was our solidarity to increasing our security in the region,” the European diplomat added.
Western officials say that they are puzzled by Budapest’s decision-making. Over the many months since Sweden applied for membership in May 2022, they say, Hungary did not raise any formal objections or requests connected to the Swedish bid – yet kept delaying its ratification.
Within Nato, events in Budapest are seen “with growing frustration and disappointment,” said a second senior European diplomat.
“Hungary had promised not to be last. That promise has been broken. We expect a swift ratification as soon as parliament reconvenes,” the diplomat stressed.
匈牙利执政党青民盟抵制了反对派召集批准瑞典加入北约的议会会议，尽管一群西方大使抵达议会敦促投票。几个月来，匈牙利总理维克托·欧尔班多次向北约内部同行承诺，该国不会是最后一个批准瑞典加入的国家。但当土耳其上个月批准瑞典申请时，欧尔班违背了承诺，只剩下匈牙利独自阻碍斯德哥尔摩的入盟。周一，包括美国驻布达佩斯大使戴维·普雷斯曼在内的 16 名外交代表抵达匈牙利议会，这是一个具有象征意义的举动。西方官员表示，他们对布达佩斯的决策感到困惑。他们表示，自瑞典于 2022 年 5 月申请加入以来的许多个月里，匈牙利没有就瑞典的申办提出任何正式反对或要求，但却不断推迟批准。
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