The Biden administration should consider imposing sanctions on Hungarian officials and removing the country from a favorable visa regime to punish Prime Minister Viktor Orban for rolling back democracy and weakening NATO unity, a top senator from the president’s party said. In a February 1 statement, Senator Ben Cardin (Democrat-Maryland), chairman of the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the administration “should be examining whether Hungary truly is a trusted partner deserving of participating in the Visa Waiver Program” and studying Global Magnitsky sanctions “given the level of corruption” in the country. Cardin also denounced Hungary’s treatment of the U.S. ambassador to Budapest, David Pressman, whom he met a day earlier. U.S. sanctions against individuals in allied nations is rare.
Biden Should Consider Sanctions, Travel Restrictions On Hungary, Top U.S. Senator Says
U.S. Senator Ben Cardin