By Janet Ekstract ISTANBUL- On December 26 Turkish Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Commission controlled by President Erdogan’s AK Party, approved Sweden’s NATO membership bid. Once the bid is passed by a full parliament vote then it goes to the Turkish president to sign into law. Since the Turkish parliament has a two-week recess in early January, the vote may take time according to Commission chief Fuat Oktay who told the press that the speaker decides on the timing for the vote. Oktay made it clear to the media even though the decision is submitted to the general assembly, that it doesn’t mean it will pass immediately. Analysts and observers have speculated though that it’s likely to pass without any further delays.
Sweden has been patiently waiting for the last two years to become a NATO member. Initially, President Erdogan wasn’t satisfied with Sweden’s measures against terrorist groups and terrorists but after Sweden changed its terrorist law and took other more stringent measures, the Turkish president sent the bid to the commission. The only obstacle to its membership is Hungary whose Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been non-committal about whether Hungary will give Sweden the green light on its NATO bid. It’s possible that after Erdogan approves the bid that Orban will likely follow suit, according to analysts.
