'If we had to vote now, the outcome would be highly questionable!'

The Hungarian government's regular, weekly press briefing was held on Thursday by Gergely Gulyás, Minister of the Prime Minister's Office, and Government Spokesperson Alexandra Szentkirályi. One of the subjects Gulyás briefed the press on was the government’s current approach to ratifying Sweden’s NATO accession.

The Hungarian Parliament has not decided on the proposal for more than fourteen months, and according to Fidesz' group leader Máté Kocsis, there's no intention to do so this autumn.

In order to be in an alliance with someone, there needs to be basic respect and a minimal level of trust. The Swedes have done everything they could to destroy respect and trust between the two countries, the Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office said.

Gulyás said that the Swedes should not only think in terms of tangibles when it comes to NATO membership. In his opinion, one could also make a controversial film about Sweden in Hungary, but the more serious problem is that in Sweden such films are shown in state schools, he said, referring to the 10-minute educational video about Hungary produced by a Swedish public-service education broadcaster. He added that Sweden should show some respect if they aspire to join a club where Hungary is a member and they are not.

The government has not withdrawn its bill on the ratification of Sweden's accession to NATO, which it submitted to Parliament last summer. However, the Fidesz parliamentary group doesn't currently support it. "Maybe it's better for the Swedes this way. If we had to vote now, the outcome would be highly questionable," Gergely Gulyás said.