US Senators Lead Efforts to Address Democratic Erosion in Orbán’s Hungary

Two US senators, Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire, and Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, are set to present a bipartisan resolution to Congress denouncing what they perceive as democratic regression in Hungary.

The resolution aims to exert pressure on Hungary’s nationalist government to alleviate its obstruction of Sweden’s entry into the NATO military alliance.

Amid escalating tensions, Hungary stands as the sole NATO member yet to endorse Sweden’s bid for NATO membership, a process that has been prolonged for over 18 months.

The unanimity of all NATO member states is essential for the admission of a new ally, underscoring the significance of Hungary’s stance in this matter.

The resolution, obtained by The Associated Press, underscores Hungary’s pivotal role in European and trans-Atlantic security.

However, it criticises Hungary for reneging on its earlier commitment not to be the final NATO ally to endorse Sweden’s accession, thus endangering peace and stability in Europe at a crucial juncture.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a prominent figure in Hungarian politics since 2010, has expressed his personal support for Sweden’s NATO accession.

Yet, internal resistance within his party persists, fueled by what Orbán perceives as falsehoods propagated by Swedish politicians regarding Hungary’s democratic state.

With Turkey’s endorsement of Stockholm’s bid in January, Hungary’s procrastination has come under intensified scrutiny.

Against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the expansion of NATO assumes heightened importance, amplifying calls for Hungary to ratify Sweden’s membership swiftly.

The senators’ resolution also critiques Orbán’s burgeoning ties with Russia and China, highlighting Hungary’s selective approach to European Union sanctions against Russia.

While Hungary has extended aid to Ukrainian refugees fleeing the conflict, it has simultaneously resisted and diluted EU sanctions targeting Russia, a stance viewed critically by its allies.

Orbán’s administration has long been at odds with the EU over allegations of democratic erosion and violations of the rule of law. The EU has withheld substantial funding from Budapest as a consequence.

The bipartisan delegation of U.S. lawmakers, led by Shaheen and Tillis, plans to visit Budapest to address strategic concerns within NATO and Hungary, underscoring growing impatience with Hungary’s delay in ratifying Sweden’s NATO bid.

The resolution further accuses Orbán of exploiting crises such as migration, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the conflict in Ukraine to justify the imposition of successive states of emergency, effectively circumventing parliamentary oversight.

It also condemns his administration’s attempts to curtail media freedom, limit civil liberties, and suppress dissenting voices.

In response to mounting pressure, Orbán hinted at legislative progress regarding Sweden’s NATO accession during a recent state of the nation address in Budapest.

He expressed optimism that the dispute with Sweden would soon be resolved, signalling a potential breakthrough in the ongoing impasse.

Main image: Dominique HOMMEL © European Union 2019 – Source : EP

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