In a show of defiance, Hungary's parliament, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, is boycotting an emergency session scheduled for Monday to vote on Sweden's bid to enter the NATO military alliance. Orbán's nationalist party's refusal further delays the decision on Stockholm's application, frustrating Hungary's western partners who have been patiently waiting for over a year for approval.

Orbán's obstructionist strategy, often referred to as sticking a "stick between the spokes," has become notorious within the European Union (EU). This tactic has repeatedly brought the EU to the brink of breaking point, as Orbán uses it to leverage concessions from the bloc, forcing its leaders to scramble for alternatives.

EU officials are growing increasingly frustrated with Orbán's behavior and are now trying to understand his motivations and how to overcome his obstructive tactics. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed his bewilderment and inability to accept Orbán's "strange and egoistic game" during an EU summit on Thursday. Orbán had previously threatened to derail plans to provide Ukraine with a significant funding package.

Orbán, who advocates for an alternative form of populist governance called "illiberal democracy," campaigns against the EU at home, positioning himself as a "freedom fighter" against a perceived overly controlling Brussels bureaucracy. He has been outspoken against what he describes as "woke culture" and referred to liberalism as a "virus" during a speech last year.

While it has long been believed that Orbán's intransigence is primarily aimed at securing funding for Hungary's economy, experts suggest that recognition is also a motivating factor for him. As the leader of a small country with less than 10 million inhabitants, Orbán has effectively used his veto power in the EU to give Hungary a decisive voice among larger member states like Germany, France, and Italy. Meeting and interacting with influential EU leaders is a way for Orbán to command recognition and bolster his standing.

Daniel Freund, a German member of the Green party and lawmaker in the European Parliament, warns that Orbán's repeated blocking of crucial EU decisions highlights the dangerous influence his veto power has within the bloc. Freund argues that unanimous decisions are transforming into tools for blackmail and extortion, posing a significant security risk. Orbán's actions have undermined EU unity on various issues, from support for Ukraine to NATO expansion.

Leaders from the EU's 27 nations convened on Thursday in Brussels for the second attempt to pass a critical $54 million financial aid package to Ukraine, a summit that Orbán had previously vetoed in December, forcing its postponement.

As EU officials grapple with Orbán's obstructionist game, they are faced with the challenge of balancing the need for unanimity while maintaining the bloc's ability to function effectively. Orbán's strategic use of veto power continues to test the limits of EU unity and the delicate balance within the union.