Political analyst calls Slovakia and Hungary's exit from the EU and NATO unlikely

It is unlikely that Slovakia and Hungary will leave the European Union (EU) and NATO, despite the fact that the leaders of these countries express their dissatisfaction with the alliances' policies. This opinion was shared with Izvestia on December 25 by Alexander Khazaridi, an expert of Polylog Group.

Earlier in the day, Slovak public figure Matus Aleksa told Izvestia that Slovakia will start collecting signatures for the country's withdrawal from the EU and NATO in early 2025. The activist said that because of anti-Russian sanctions in Slovakia almost all sectors have suffered: metallurgy, heavy industry, medicine, tourism, engineering and others. Against this background, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called for a reconsideration of sanctions against Russia, "hampering the development of Europe."

"Neither Hungary nor Slovakia are probably going to leave the EU and NATO. Especially after the victory [in the US presidential election] of Donald Trump, an icon for right-wing movements around the world, with whom Viktor Orban maintains close personal contact," Hazaridi commented.

According to him, the attractiveness of the European Union has diminished over the past 10-20 years of almost continuous crises, but EU membership is still economically beneficial for small countries. Orban and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fitzo, the expert believes, have traditionally played to the interests of major world players, pursuing a "pro-national" policy in the interests of their own countries. A new trend has emerged - Alternative for Germany, the National Association in France and other right-wing European forces can be attributed to it, the political scientist added.

"They were once considered Euroskeptics, but in recent years the parties have adjusted the goal. Instead of leaving the EU, the idea is to take power and reform the EU from within: supporting European business, solving the migration crisis," he reported.

Hazaridi also noted that Orban and Fitzo feel the weakness of Brussels and are trying to sway the situation by strengthening the positions of their countries - that is how their rhetoric should be perceived.

"We are preparing a petition for Slovakia's withdrawal from the EU and NATO"

Public figure Matusz Aleksa - on the negative impact of sanctions, celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory and assistance to Donbass

Before that, on December 22, Slovak member of the European Parliament Luboš Blaga called Fitzo's visit to Moscow, which took place on the same day, a slap in the face for Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky (his term of office expired in May). He emphasized that the people of Slovakia support Russia and do not consider this state an enemy state.

Before that, on December 19, Bloomberg reported that Hungary refused the EU in Hungary to extend sanctions against Russia before US President-elect Trump officially takes office. It is specified that a unanimous decision of 27 members is needed to extend sanctions towards Russia. Vote for the continuation of sanctions is necessary until the end of January 2025.

Meanwhile, on November 15, Orban said that the economic path of Europe is comparable to suicide. Thus, the result of the conflict in Ukraine, according to the politician, are the problems with the Hungarian economy. In his opinion, the imposition of sanctions against Russia, imposed by Brussels, was wrong.

Western countries tightened sanctions pressure on Russia in connection with the special operation to protect Donbas. The decision to launch it was announced on February 24, 2022 after the situation in the region worsened due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.