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1/ Today’s big news is that Hungary will veto the next EU budget over its rule of law conditionalty.
Hungary has been increasingly using its veto power in the EU in recent years, however, these were under-the-radar issues for the general public.
Here are some of them. Thread.
Hungary has been increasingly using its veto power in the EU in recent years, however, these were under-the-radar issues for the general public.
Here are some of them. Thread.
2/ Orbán’s government is not only fighting EU criticism of Hungary’s very own rule of law situation.
Hungary regularly blocked or threatened to veto similar EU attempts against key allies and strategic partners like China, the Trump-led U.S., Israel, or Belarus.
Hungary regularly blocked or threatened to veto similar EU attempts against key allies and strategic partners like China, the Trump-led U.S., Israel, or Belarus.
3/ China is the most spectacular example. Hungary regularly defends the regime against EU condemnation over human rights issues.
In March 2017, Hungary alone prevented the EU from signing a petition protesting the torture of detained lawyers in China. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/03/22/eleven-countries-signed-a-letter-slamming-china-for-torturing-lawyers-the-u-s-did-not/
In March 2017, Hungary alone prevented the EU from signing a petition protesting the torture of detained lawyers in China. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/03/22/eleven-countries-signed-a-letter-slamming-china-for-torturing-lawyers-the-u-s-did-not/
4/ In April 2018, @eu_eeas tried to issue a statement asking China to adhere to human rights & international law, also asking EU countries to avoid using China’s propagandistic language in bilateral agreements. Hungary threatened with a veto, then refused to sign the document.
5/ In July 2016, Hungary - joined by Greece & Croatia - vetoed a joint EU statement welcoming a Hague international court ruling over the South China Sea. The ruling favored the Philippines against China. The final EU statement did not mention China at all https://www.reuters.com/article/southchinasea-ruling-eu-idUSL8N1A130Y
6/ In October 2018, when Visegrad Group prime ministers met with the Japanese premier, no public statement was issued because Orbán did not want to include references to maritime security & the South China Sea.
More on Hungarian-Chinese relations here: https://www.direkt36.hu/en/csendben-csinalja-de-mar-nyakig-benne-van-a-magyar-kormany-a-huawei-haboruban/
More on Hungarian-Chinese relations here: https://www.direkt36.hu/en/csendben-csinalja-de-mar-nyakig-benne-van-a-magyar-kormany-a-huawei-haboruban/
7/ Belarus is an odd example. This summer, EU member states were seriously concerned that Orbán will veto EU sanctions against Lukashenko’s regime. He did not, but fears are not unfounded: back in 2019, Hungary threatened to veto the EU’s arms embargo. https://www.rferl.org/a/hungary-holding-back-on-vote-on-belarus-arms-embargo-extension/29750254.html
8/ Israel was the main beneficiary of Orbán’s maverick foreign policy in recent years: "Hungary vetoes and engages in political conflicts in the EU to advance Israel’s interests, and what it receives in return is primarily Netanyahu’s network of contacts.” https://www.direkt36.hu/en/az-izraeli-szovetseg-ami-atirta-orban-politikajat/
9/ In May 2019, Hungary vetoed a joint EU statement criticising Israel's conduct toward Palestinians at a UN security council meeting.
The EU’s Finnish representative was so fed up with the last minute veto that he basically overruled it. https://www.euronews.com/2019/05/02/eu-ignores-hungary-s-last-minute-veto-on-statement-criticising-israel
The EU’s Finnish representative was so fed up with the last minute veto that he basically overruled it. https://www.euronews.com/2019/05/02/eu-ignores-hungary-s-last-minute-veto-on-statement-criticising-israel
10/ November 2019: "An effort to get all 28 European Union member states to issue a joint statement condemning the US decision to no longer consider Israeli settlements as illegal is being blocked by Hungary” https://www.timesofisrael.com/budapest-blocks-joint-eu-statement-condemning-us-shift-on-settlements/
11/ Remember Turkey’s military intervention in Syria last November?
Since Erdogan is one of Orbán’s closest illiberal allies, Hungary did everything to prevent the EU from condemning the Turkish offensive. https://hungarytoday.hu/foreign-minister-admits-hungary-blocked-eu-resolution-on-turkey/
Since Erdogan is one of Orbán’s closest illiberal allies, Hungary did everything to prevent the EU from condemning the Turkish offensive. https://hungarytoday.hu/foreign-minister-admits-hungary-blocked-eu-resolution-on-turkey/
12/ No, Hungary is not only using its veto power in the EU - NATO is another platform for Orbán’s government to do so.
Hungary has been vetoing high-level NATO-Ukraine talks since 2017 over a debate on minority and language rights of ethnic Hungarians. https://www.direkt36.hu/en/bement-egy-tucat-diplomata-a-magyar-kulugybe-feszult-vita-lett-belole-ukrajna-miatt/
Hungary has been vetoing high-level NATO-Ukraine talks since 2017 over a debate on minority and language rights of ethnic Hungarians. https://www.direkt36.hu/en/bement-egy-tucat-diplomata-a-magyar-kulugybe-feszult-vita-lett-belole-ukrajna-miatt/
13/ Just another example of Hungary’s now three-years-old vetoing streak against Ukraine in NATO: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hungary-nato-ukraine/hungary-vetoes-nato-statement-on-ukraine-over-minority-rights-minister-idUSKBN1X91ZI
14/ Hungary has been successfully blocking the EU’s own Magnitsky Act (aimed at sanctioning human rights violators) for quite some time, even @Billbrowder lashed out at Orban. But it was pressure from @SenatorWicker that forced Hungary to change course. https://www.wsj.com/articles/after-u-s-push-eu-set-to-launch-new-human-rights-sanctions-regime-11606476221
