"Orban's Approval Paves the Way for Sweden's NATO Membership"

Hungary's parliament is set to vote on ratifying Sweden's NATO accession, which has been delayed for over 18 months due to opposition from governing party lawmakers. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has close ties with Russia, has cited criticism of Hungary's democracy by Swedish politicians as a reason for the delay. However, a reconciliation between Orbán and Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, including a defense industry agreement, is expected to pave the way for Sweden's NATO membership. The vote on Sweden's NATO accession is part of a busy agenda for Hungarian lawmakers, which also includes accepting the resignation of President Katalin Novák and confirming Tamás Sulyok as the new president. Pressure from NATO allies and the EU has been mounting on Hungary to drop its opposition to Sweden's membership.