Hungary Parl't Speaker-'No Urgency' On Approving Sweden Bid

In an interview with Index.hu, Speaker of the Naitonal Assembly László Kövér stated that there was 'no urgency' in parliament's process to ratify Sweden's NATO accession. This is despite Turkey having approved Stockholm's bid earlier this week, leaving Hungary as the only NATO holdout, and an apparent change of heart from PM Viktor Orban who stated on 24 Jan that he wants to see the National Assembly approve ratification "at the first opportunity."

• Kövér when asked about an extraordinary session of parliament to address the issue stated, "I have no doubt that one of the opposition parties - which usually do not serve Hungarian interests - will initiate the convening of this, probably without success. Anyway, I don't feel that anything is urgent, and in fact, I don't think an extraordinary situation has arisen." The National Assembly is currently not due to reconvene until 26 Feb.
• When asked about Fidesz deputies that are not in favour of ratification, the speaker replies "You are currently talking to one such member. But I would clarify: I would also be happy if our hopeful allies would give me the chance to change my position in good conscience as soon as possible."
• Given Orban's stated support for ratification, it is very unlikely that the National Assembly - where his right-wing populist Fidesz-KDNP holds a 2/3 supermajority - would oppose the PM's instructions.