Finland's NATO Bid Ratified in Hungarian Parliament
- 29 Mar 2023 7:04 AM
- Hungary Matters
Hungarian lawmakers on Monday voted to ratify Finland's NATO accession.
The MPs approved Finland’s bid with 182 votes in favour and 6 against. Finland applied to join the military alliance in the wake of the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Pál Zsigmond Barna of the ruling Fidesz party said in the chamber that Russian aggression had given NATO renewed strength, and Euro-Atlantic allies had withstood the challenge and supported Ukraine.
Finland’s accession, he added, would be a major contribution to the alliance’s defence capabilities.
Meanwhile, the Fidesz politician called radical opposition party Mi Hazánk’s demand that Hungary withdraw from NATO “geopolitical nihilism” and an act against Hungarian interests.
Béla Turi-Kovács of Fidesz said that after careful consideration, the governing parties had decided to support the NATO accession of Sweden and Finland.
Nacsa Lőrinc of the junior governing Christian Democrats told MPs that Hungary, as a good NATO ally, was interested in NATO’s survival, adding that the ruling parties were generally in favour of EU and NATO enlargement.
MTI Photo: Tibor Illyés
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