Hungary Set To Vote To Ratify Sweden's NATO Accession

As noted this morning (see 0811GMT bullet), the Hungarian National Assembly is set to vote shortly on

ratifying Sweden's NATO bid. At the opening of the new session of parliament earlier today, PM Viktor Orban gave an address focusing on the aftermath of the resignation of President Katalin Novak, where the Orban gov'ts pro-family values credentials have come into question, as well as the international situation.

• Gov't spox Zoltan Kovacs posts on X: "[Orban] confirmed Hungary's support for Sweden's accession to NATO, emphasizing the alliance's critical role in mutual defense and the importance of resolving disputes before welcoming a new member. Regarding foreign attempts to meddle in this process, he remarked, "Before we let a new member into this alliance, we must first settle our disputes. Hungary and Sweden, as long-established European countries, know how to resolve our differences without the need for unsolicited guardianship or disrespectful intervention."
• Once the National Assembly approves the ratification it will go to the desk of (incoming) President Tamas Sulyok for his signature. This process can take a maximum of five days. When Finland's NATO accession was ratified by parliament it took three days to get the president's signature. The ratification document must then be deposited in Washington, D.C., after which the US gov't will inform Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg who then invites Sweden to join the alliance, which is finalised by the raising of the Swedish flag at NATO HQ.