- Title: Hungary parliament backs Finland's NATO accession
- Date: 27th March 2023
- Summary: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (FEBRUARY 28, 2023) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF HUNGARIAN PARLIAMENT BUILDING
- Embargoed: 10th April 2023 17:52
- Keywords: Finland in NATO Hungarian parliament Hungarian vote NATO accession NATO expansion
- Location: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
- City: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
- Country: Hungary
- Topics: Europe,NATO,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA002066927032023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Hungary's parliament approved a bill on Monday (March 27) to allow Finland to join NATO once its application has been ratified by all 30 members of the alliance, ending months of foot-dragging by the ruling Fidesz party on the matter.
The bill on Finland's NATO accession was passed with 182 in favour and six votes against after Fidesz said last week it would back the motion.
Finland and Sweden asked to join the trans-Atlantic military alliance last year in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But the process has been held up by Turkey and Hungary.
Although Finland's bid has now been approved, the Swedish bill is still stranded in the Hungarian parliament.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said last week that Turkey's parliament would also start ratifying Finland's accession.
But it also held off approving Sweden's bid.
A vote on Sweden's bid has not yet been scheduled in Budapest.
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