Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Monday attacked Sweden's government over its handling of organised crime, claiming its authorities were not pursuing criminals who exploit minors, as he erroneously quoted an AFP article.
Hungary's new president has signed his country's approval for Sweden's accession to Nato, opening the way for the country to join the defence alliance after nearly two years of delay.
Hungary's parliament on Monday afternoon voted through Sweden's Nato application, clearing the final hurdle before the Nordic country can join the military alliance.
Hungary is expected to ratify Sweden's Nato application on Monday afternoon, the final obstacle for an enlargement of the alliance spurred by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Hungary deepened military cooperation with Sweden on Friday, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announcing the acquisition of four Swedish-made fighter jets ahead of a vote on Stockholm's Nato bid.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will meet Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban on Friday ahead of a key parliamentary vote in Budapest on Sweden's stalled bid to join Nato.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Monday criticised Hungary's "unacceptable" delay in ratifying Sweden's Nato accession amid the nearly two-year-old invasion of Ukraine.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Saturday that his country was "on course" to ratify Sweden's NATO accession
bid this month as Budapest remains the last holdout.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said he would be happy to accept his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban's invitation to Budapest to discuss a range of issues, but not to negotiate the terms of Sweden's Nato application.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson replied to his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban's invitation to discuss Sweden's Nato bid, saying he'd be willing to meet in Hungary at a 'convenient' time.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told parliament that ratifying Sweden's Nato bid was not 'urgent', potentially further delaying the Nordic country's bid to join the military alliance.
Turkey's parliament may not be able to ratify Sweden's Nato membership until October, a pro-regime Turkish newspaper has reported, while Hungary looks likely to move faster.
Hungary's ratification of Sweden's Nato bid is now "only a technical question," Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto
said Tuesday, after Turkey agreed to allow the Nordic country to join the alliance.
Hungary called on Sweden to "clear the air" and address "an ample amount of grievances" on Wednesday for parliament to ratify the Nordic country's Nato accession.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Thursday he would seek an explanation from Hungary about why it is delaying its parliament's ratification of Sweden's Nato bid but not Finland's.
Hungary’s president, Viktor Orbán, has said that while he personally supports Swedish and Finnish accession to Nato, many MPs in his Fidesz party are worried because of the way the two countries “spread lies about us”.
