Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Member states of the European Union are contemplating revoking Hungary’s voting rights due to its ongoing efforts to obstruct aid for Ukraine, reports the Guardian.
According to the Guardian, this possible move arises as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán confronts his most significant political crisis in years, marked by opposition leader Péter Magyar.
Orbán, an ally of Russian President Putin, has resisted military support for Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022, advocating for peace discussions that would halt the conflict and reinforce Moscow’s dominance over seized areas.
Posters are being displayed across Hungary with the message,
“Let’s not allow them to decide for us,”
depicting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European People’s Party leader Manfred Weber as antagonists in Hungarian government propaganda, according to the Guardian.
The campaign is focused on a referendum asking citizens:
“Do you support Ukraine becoming a member of the EU?”
Following the campaign’s launch, PM Orbán encouraged citizens to oppose membership, asserting that “we would have to spend all Hungary’s money on Ukraine.” The government has also alleged without evidence that “cheap labor” from Ukraine would take jobs from Hungarians and that outbreaks could occur due to low vaccination rates among Ukrainians.
Will Hungary’s veto on Ukraine aid trigger Article 7?
Furthermore, Hungary under Orbán has not only refrained from sending military aid to Ukraine but has also vetoed the allocation of €6 billion intended to reimburse EU countries supplying military assistance to Ukraine. In addition, Hungary has declined to endorse two EU declarations supporting its invaded neighbor and has consistently sought to obstruct EU sanctions against Russia, although it ultimately retreated from this position.
European experts argue that Hungary’s actions have heightened debates among EU countries regarding the potential activation of Article 7, a treaty provision that could lead to the suspension of its voting rights.
Can the EU unite to suspend Hungary’s voting rights?
However, any attempt to proceed encounters a significant obstacle: the need for unanimous support from the remaining 26 member states. Achieving this level of consensus has been challenging in the past, notably with Poland previously obstructing progress. Focus has now shifted to Slovakia, where Prime Minister Robert Fico is viewed as the most likely candidate to protect Hungary from possible sanctions.
A potential flashpoint arises on 31 July, as Hungary may obstruct the renewal of EU sanctions against Russia. This package encompasses the freeze of €210 billion in Russian central bank assets, with the profits aiding Ukraine’s defense and the principal viewed as crucial for future reconstruction.
While Hungary has a history of retreating from such veto threats, diplomats remain cautious.
“If past trends are an indicator for the future, we should be fine. However, it would be unwise to take that for granted,”
a senior diplomat mentioned to the Guardian, highlighting that contingency plans are already being implemented to address a potential Hungarian blockade.
