Hungary's inclusion in US Visa Waiver Program should be reconsidered, Chair of Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee suggests

According to the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the United States Senate it would be worth examining "whether Hungary is deserving of participating in the Visa Waiver Program", a statement published by Ben Cardin said. US Ambassador David Pressman was recently in Washington for talks with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the White House National Security Council. The head of the Foreign Relations Committee also says it is worth considering whether sanctions against corrupt Hungarian politicians should be initiated under the Global Magnitsky Act.

The Magnitsky Act allows the US to deny entry to any person and freeze the assets of anyone it considers to be violating human rights anywhere in the world.

"I have deep concerns over the direction of the current Hungarian government, whose officials have repeatedly attacked President Biden and Ambassador Pressman in ways that should be unthinkable for an American ally – Cardin wrote in his statement.

According to him, Viktor Orbán has once again shown himself to be the least reliable member of NATO. He bases this on Hungary's unnecessary delay in providing aid to Ukraine. "Hungary must now expeditiously end its obstruction of Sweden’s NATO membership.", he added.

Cardin's statement also mentioned the Sovereignty Protection Act. According to him, it is a direct attack on journalists, civil society, political figures and anyone who criticizes the Orbán regime. He said the ongoing erosion of democratic norms in Hungary continues to be alarming.