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FM Szijjártó threatened the European Commission concerning the anti-Putin sanctions
Whether the European Commission can keep its recent promises will have a strong impact on how Hungary votes the next time the sanctions imposed on Russia are up for renewal, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Madrid on Friday.
Hope for peace and growth
“Though the European pro-war political elite is trying to ignore the global political changes”, the pro-war forces have been given “a huge opportunity” with US President Donald Trump taking office, Szijjártó said after talks with Santiago Abascal, the leader of Spain’s right-wing VOX party, according to a ministry statement. “It’s time to put an end to pro-war policies in Europe, to the sanctions that have resulted in extraordinary losses to the European economy,” Szijjártó said. “There’s hope now that peace and economic growth will return to Europe.”
The minister criticised the sanctions imposed by the EU in recent years, saying they had “destroyed the continent’s competitiveness” and the model of economic growth built on cooperation with Russia “which hasn’t been replaced with anything”. “Hungary has made no secret of its position on the sanctions, and the last three years have clearly shown that we’re also right when it comes to sanctions,” he said. “The European sanctions haven’t just caused serious harm to Hungary but also the European economy. It would be better to get rid of them as soon as possible.”
Szijjártó threatened the European Commission
Szijjártó noted that Hungary has received guarantees from the European Commission that Ukraine cannot endanger Hungary’s or central Europe’s energy security. “So if the European Commission doesn’t keep its promise, if it can’t convince Ukraine not to take measures that hurt Hungary’s energy security, they will have themselves to blame the next time the sanctions are voted on,” Szijjártó said.
He said the sanctions have cost Hungary 7,500 billion forints (EUR 19bn) so far, even though the country had nothing to do with the war in Ukraine, adding that it was “unacceptable” if Kyiv, at the same time, was also endangering Hungary’s energy security. “We put an end to this on Monday, and if those who made these promises don’t keep them, then it’s obvious how Hungary will vote the next time the sanctions are voted on in March,” he said.
New era in international politics
Szijjártó said world politics was at the start of a “completely new era”, with the “liberal mainstream having lost a significant amount of strength” after last year’s US presidential election. “With the United States having inaugurated a pro-family, anti-migration, pro-peace president, the pro-family, pro-peace, anti-migration political parties have again become the mainstream in world politics,” he said. “This is how the Hungarian government’s political strategy has again become part of the global mainstream.”
Meanwhile, Szijjártó welcomed that the “patriotic forces” were also making significant gains in Europe, saying that a time when these parties regained their rightful place in European politics and ended “a period of hypocrisy and double standards” was within reach. “The patriots becoming stronger also increases the chances of peace returning to Europe,” he added.
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He (Szijjártó) said that the sanctions have cost Hungary 7,500 billion forints (EUR 19 bln) so far. Really? I’d like to see an accounting of that. And while the bean counters are at it. How much has the current Hungarian government and its crony business partners cost Hungary during the same time period?
Our Politicians´ BFF Mr. Trump is a great believer in sanctions and tariffs. Misguided, obviously. Now, Europe also appears to be in the crosshairs for “measures” – and Hungary is part of Europe. This should get interesting, very quickly!