Hungary's ruling Fidesz party boycotted an extraordinary session of the Hungarian parliament called by opposition lawmakers on February 6 to approve Sweden's accession to Nato. The country remains the last Nato member to ratify Sweden joining the Western defence alliance, despite Prime Minister Viktor Orban's pledge that this would not happen.

Opposition parties accused the government of betraying Hungary's interests and serving Russian interests by the delay of the vote.

Hungary's international isolation on Nato expansion follows Orban's humiliation at the European Council summit last week, when he was forced to back down and permit the EU's €50bn Ukraine aid plan to go forward after finding himself completely on his own.

U.S. ambassador to Hungary David Pressman watched empty rows of parliament with 15 other Nato ambassadors, including those from the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Poland and Slovakia. Pressman had reminded Orban on Friday that February 5 was the opportunity to fulfill his promise to "act on Sweden" at the first opportunity.

Sweden's accession to Nato is an issue that directly affects the national security of the United States and the security of the alliance as a whole, Pressman told reporters in Budapest's main Kossuth Square.

"We continue to watch events closely and expect Hungary to act quickly", he added.

Pressman’s comments that the delay directly affects US security is the strongest kind of diplomatic warning possible, as Washington is getting tired of  Orban’s games.  There are growing signs that the U.S. administration is considering slapping Hungary with sanctions for threatening the security of the block.

The Biden Administration should be examining whether Hungary truly is a trusted partner deserving of participating in the Visa Waiver Program – and given the level of corruption, whether it is appropriate to initiate sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act, according to a statement by U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D.), the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from the weekend after lawmakers met with  Pressman.

Washington has deep concerns over the direction of the current Hungarian government, whose officials have repeatedly attacked President Joe Biden and Ambassador Pressman in ways that should be unthinkable for an American ally, the statement read.

A commentary of Monday’s plenary session by the flagship Orban-loyal media reflects these concerns.

"The leader of the Hungarian opposition in parliament today was David Pressman. Even the occupying Soviets have never exercised their power so crudely and clearly," broadsheet Magyar Nemzet wrote with a title: Comrade Pressman follows in the footsteps of Marshal Vorosilov and Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov.

The Hungarian leader had said on numerous occasions that Budapest will not be the last country to ratify, but was left alone after Turkey jumped on board.

Initially, Hungary delayed ratification due to Swedish criticisms of the rule of law and media freedom in Hungary, and after Turkey's ratification at the end of January, Hungary set a new condition. Before the plenary session, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and Fidesz politicians indicated that lawmakers won't support holding a vote until Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson accepts an invitation by Orban to visit Budapest to negotiate on the matter.

Kristersson has said earlier that he will make the trip, but only after Hungary approves his country's Nato membership. He has said there is nothing to discuss.

In a statement issued on Monday, Fidesz that ratification can take place during a regular session of parliament, "but we are expecting the Swedish prime minister to visit Hungary first".

As a pretext for Fidesz's absence from the parliamentary debate, Orban convened a three-day government meeting on February 3 a day after the necessary number of signatures were collected to hold the vote and the House Speaker set the day for the special session.

Fidesz generally holds preparations for the spring session of parliament on the weekend before, but this year the  parliament is expected to reconvene from the winter break only on February 26.

In related news, the Hungarian foreign minister reassured his Estonian counterpart Margus Tsahkna in a telephone call that the government’s positive approach to Sweden’s Nato bid was unchanged and that the bill approving Sweden’s membership had long ago been submitted to parliament.

Hungary’s top diplomat said Budapest Hungary won’t approve any kind of sanctions affecting the energy sector or the nuclear industry, or any that endangered the EU's foreign relations.