Dutch coalition divided on Hungary, VVD and NSC back boycott

The Netherlands’ four-party, right-wing coalition government is divided about how to deal with Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán, following his “peace mission” to Russia and China.

The Liberal VVD and the NSC want the Dutch cabinet to sign up for the boycott announced by the European Commission, which says it will only send civil servants to informal meetings in Hungary during the country’s six-month presidency.

But Geert Wilders’ PVV and the BBB disagree, with one PVV parliamentarian describing the VVD’s position as “madness”. Wilders is a long-time ally of Orbán and PVV MEPs have joined his “patriots” grouping within the European parliament.

Prime minister Dick Schoof has said the Netherlands will decide on a meeting-by-meeting basis who to send to Hungary.

But VVD parliamentarian Thom van Campen says the Netherlands should give a clear signal about Orbán’s “provocations” and join the countries that have agreed to boycott informal meetings.

The NSC also says that Orbán’s visits to Beijing and Moscow have undermined EU unity. They, plus the VVD and opposition parties, would have a majority in parliament backing a boycott.

On Monday the European Commission said senior civil servants rather than top officials will attend informal meetings hosted by Hungary while the country holds the EU’s rotating presidency.

This follows visits by Hungary’s pro-Russian prime minister to foreign leaders in Russia, Azerbaijan, China, and the United States in what he called a “peace mission” for Ukraine.

The decision was taken “in light of recent developments marking the start of the Hungarian presidency,” Eric Mamer, chief spokesman for commission president Ursula von der Leyen, said on social media.

Hungary took over the six-month rotating role on July 1.