 "Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban. File Image/Reuters")
Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s office on Thursday announced that Hungary might withdraw from the World Health Organization.
Trump initiated the US withdrawal shortly after taking office in January, and Argentinian President Javier Milei followed suit on Wednesday.
“If the most powerful country in the world decides to withdraw from an international organisation, then the Hungarian government would approach the decision carefully when considering whether to follow suit,” Politico quoted Gergely Gulyás, the minister overseeing the Hungarian Prime Minister’s Office, as saying on Thursday.
“We may come to the conclusion that we do not have to do it, we may come to a different decision, of course, but it is certainly worth considering,” Gulyás said, since the “world’s strongest democracy is leaving of its own free will.”
Trump and his allies have criticised the WHO for allegedly interfering with national sovereignty, being excessively influenced by China, and mishandling its COVID-19 response — claims that WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus firmly rejected in a speech to member countries on Monday.
“As a UN agency, WHO is impartial and exists to serve all countries and all people,” Tedros said.
When countries make requests that go beyond WHO’s mission to support global health, “we say no, politely,” he added.
After United States’ exit from the World Health Organization last month, Argentina on Wednesday announced that it will withdraw from the UN agency, citing “deep differences” over health management.
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More Shorts“President Javier Milei’s decision was based on deep differences regarding health management especially during the (Covid-19) pandemic,” AFP quoted presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni as saying to reporters.
He added that Argentina would not “allow an international body to interfere in our sovereignty.”
Self-declared “anarcho-capitalist” Milei is an avowed fan of US President Donald Trump, who signed an order within hours of his January 20 inauguration for the United States to withdraw from the WHO, which he has also criticised for its handling of the pandemic.
With inputs from agencies