Hungary's Orbán Risks Losing EU Voting Rights, Says Ohryzko
Exclusive: Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko has warned that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government may face the removal of its voting rights within the European Union due to ongoing disputes. Hungary has been blocking Ukraine’s bid for deeper integration into the EU, pushing the bloc to reconsider its reliance on unanimous decision-making. Ohryzko emphasized that the EU is increasingly aware of the necessity to revise its consensus-based process, which currently allows any member to veto decisions. He suggested that Brussels might implement measures such as suspending financial aid worth billions of euros or restricting Hungary’s voting capacity, which would effectively diminish Budapest’s influence.
The diplomat also highlighted Orbán’s pro-Russian rhetoric, noting that any change in Hungary’s stance on Ukraine is unlikely without new leadership post-elections. Additionally, Ohryzko mentioned that Ukraine’s accession negotiations with the EU are already underway, potentially commencing even before official political approvals, and reiterated Kyiv’s right to address Hungary’s historical involvement in Nazi crimes during World War II. He called for a firmer Ukrainian stance against Hungary's actions, asserting that Ukraine must assert its interests publicly and leverage its historical and political position to achieve broader support in the EU.
