EU considers removing Hungary's voting rights amid PM Orbán's Ukraine aid blockade

European Union member states are considering removing Hungary’s voting rights after its persistent attempts to block support for Ukraine.

This potential action comes as pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán faces his most serious political challenge in years from opposition leader Péter Magyar, Caliber.Az reports, citing The Guardian.

Russian President Putin’s ally Orbán has opposed military aid to Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 invasion, pushing for peace talks that would freeze the war and solidify Moscow’s control of occupied territories. 

Posters are appearing throughout Hungary with the slogan “Let’s not allow them to decide for us,” featuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European People’s Party leader Manfred Weber as villains in Hungarian government propaganda, The Guardian says.

The campaign centers on a referendum asking citizens: “Do you support Ukraine becoming a member of the EU?” After launching the campaign, PM Orbán urged citizens to vote against membership, claiming that “we would have to spend all Hungary’s money on Ukraine.” The government has also made unsubstantiated claims that “cheap labor” from Ukraine would take Hungarian jobs and that epidemics would spread due to insufficient vaccination rates among Ukrainians.

László Andor, Hungary’s EU commissioner from 2010 to 2014, told The Guardian that the governing Fidesz party recognised “there is a sentiment against Hungary’s involvement in the war” and has “used and abused” this sentiment “to deny proper support to Ukraine.”

Not only has Hungary under Orbán never sent military aid to Ukraine, but it has also vetoed the release of €6 billion in funds meant to reimburse other EU countries providing military aid to Ukraine and has refused to sign two EU declarations supporting its invaded neighbor. Moreover, Budapest has repeatedly attempted to block EU sanctions against Russia, although it eventually backed down.

Hungary’s behavior has intensified discussions among EU countries about invoking Article 7, the treaty mechanism that could suspend its voting rights.

Any such move, however, faces a major hurdle: unanimous backing from the other 26 member states. That level of agreement has proven elusive in the past, with Poland previously blocking action. Attention has now turned to Slovakia, where Prime Minister Robert Fico is seen as the most likely to shield Hungary from potential penalties.

A potential flashpoint is approaching on 31 July, when Hungary could block the renewal of EU sanctions against Russia. The package includes the freeze on €210 billion in Russian central bank assets, with profits helping to finance Ukraine’s defense and the principal seen as vital for future reconstruction.

By Khagan Isayev