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Sanctions are ‘wrong to the core’ – Hungarian parliament leader — Analysis

The EU’s economic war on Russia will cripple the bloc’s economy, Laszlo Kover warned

Hungarian National Assembly Speaker Laszlo Kover has condemned the EU’s economic sanctions on Russia as “wrong to the core,”Forecasting economic disaster as a result. Kover, a long-time critic of the bloc, added that Hungary’s success depends on cooperation with both East and West.

Speaking in the Hungarian town of Bugac on Saturday, Kover used a Hungarian proverb to describe the EU’s decision to impose massive economic sanctions on Russia while still relying on its energy exports.

“Brussels politicians swung their legs without a horse under them,”He spoke to Kurultaj festival attendees, which is an annual celebration of Turkic steppe-nomadic horse culture and Eurasian/Turkic steppe-nomadic horses. Kover added that the sanctions – imposed in seven successive rounds since Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine in February – are “wrong to the core,”This will lead to economic ruin in Europe.


World desperately needs strong leaders – Orban

Kover is a member of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party, and Orban himself has expressed a similar view on Brussels’ sanctions policy. Orban bluntly stated that last month in his speech. “the sanctions are not destabilizing Moscow”As intended. He instead remarked that, “Europe is in trouble.”

Russia supplies 40% of the EU’s oil and gas. However, rising energy prices are causing record inflation. In response, Russia has announced that it will reduce its Russian gas imports and put a partial block on Russian oil. Numerous EU states have imposed power rationing. The situation is expected to worsen with winter approaching. However, Hungary managed to obtain an exemption from the oil embargo. It has also been in negotiations to purchase more gas from Russia.

This stance has made Hungary an outlier in the EU, as has Orban’s insistence that NATO’s policy of arming Ukraine against Russia is a lost cause. The Hungarian premier replied to critics by saying that “Brussels is not our boss,”That’s the best part! “independent, sovereign Hungarian nation”It would be great! “prevent” EU policies that aren’t in its national interest.

As an EU member, Hungary is nevertheless party to most of Brussels’ sanctions on Russia. As a NATO member, Hungary is bound to support the US-led NATO alliance in case of open war against Russia.

In his speech on Saturday, Kover described Hungary’s history and geography as making the country a “bridge”Between East and West “When the East and the West confronted each other, it only brought decline,”He said. “But if they cooperated, it brought Hungary a chance to rise.”

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