BIRN Publishes 2026 Trends Report – ‘Populism in Central Europe: A Reprise’
This year's report examines five trends that will be driven by the populist revival in the region. KAYNAK: Balkan Insight
Democracy Digest: Slovak PM Denies Describing Trump as ‘Dangerous’
Elsewhere, Hungarian minister denies his remark about Roma cleaning toilets was racist; more objects enter Polish airspace from direction of Belarus; and Czech president leaks foreign minister’s ‘blackmail’ texts. KAYNAK:…
Democracy Digest: Orban Signs Up to Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’, Nawrocki prevaricates
Elsewhere, Slovak PM also gets sit-down with US president; Czech president and new government differ over military aircraft sale to Ukraine; and Tisza recruits ‘Kapitany’ of industry as its chief…
Democracy Digest: Slovaks Bridle at ‘Hungarians Living in Felvidek’ Phrase
Elsewhere, Hungary sets general election date for April 12; new Czech government faces interminable vote of confidence; and Poland successfully repels largest cyberattack on energy infrastructure in years. KAYNAK: Balkan…
Democracy Digest: Fico Criticizes US While Orban Dissembles
Elsewhere, Mercedes to move entire A-Klasse manufacturing from Germany to Hungary; Slovak far-right agitator Bombic to face trial; Poland gets serious about prosecuting hate crimes; and ammo initiative for Ukraine…
Democracy Digest: EU Summit Agrees €90 Billion Loan to Ukraine Without Central Europe
Elsewhere, tensions in Slovak-Hungarian relations rise over Benes Decrees; Slovakia’s top court declares two pieces of coalition legislation unconstitutional; Polish president to meet Ukrainian counterpart in Warsaw on Friday; and…
The US’s Hostility to Europe Threatens to Sell Out Ukraine and its Eastern Flank
Trump’s ‘peace plan’ for Ukraine and the National Security Strategy treat European sovereignty with similar double standards. KAYNAK: Balkan Insight
Democracy Digest: Babis Appointed Czech PM But Fate of Motorists’ Turek Unclear
Elsewhere, legislative chaos as Slovak government rams through laws and president wields veto; yet another scandal in Hungary exposes government’s hollow ‘child-friendly’ narrative; and Poland invited to become first in…
Democracy Digest: Polish President Cancels Meeting with Orban at V4
Elsewhere, Slovak culture minister gets court injunction to stop former National Theatre director making any public statements about her; Czech president to appoint Babis PM on Tuesday; and Polish PM…
New Czech Government to Follow CEE Trend of Targeting NGOs
The difficult operating environment for NGOs in the region is about to get worse as Czechia under Andrej Babis’s populist coalition looks set to join Hungary, Slovakia and Serbia in…