Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico Is the EU’s Latest Headache

Daniel Martínek (IDM) explains to the Fair Observer the background of the current protests in Slovakia and describes the first steps taken by the government of the newly returned Prime Minister Robert Fico. Critics argue that the proposed reforms aim to consolidate power for the Smer party and protect Fico’s associates. Fico’s nationalist agenda faces opposition from both domestic protests and international pressure, with the upcoming presidential election crucial for the country’s democratic future. 

Read the article here. 

Malwina Talik im ZiB2-Gespräch über die Liberalisierung des Abtreibungsgesetzes in Polen

Malwina Talik (IDM) war am 25. Jänner in der ZiB2 bei Margit Laufer zu Gast. Dort hat sie die Pläne zur Liberalisierung des Abtreibungsgesetzes in Polen analysiert und mögliche Hürden besprochen.

Sehen Sie sich das Interview hier an.

How to Beat Authoritarian Parties, Polish-Style

Malwina Talik (IDM) gives her opinion for Fair Observer about what can democratic oppositions contesting elections this year learn from Poland after last year, when Poland’s opposition successfully defeated the illiberal ruling party Law and Justice. They did so not by forming a big tent coalition, but by each party speaking to the concerns of each voter. Poland’s success can be an example as an unusually high number of elections take place worldwide this year.

Read the whole article here.

Péter Techet on the dangers of Orbán’s understanding of sovereignty

For the Austrian newspaper “Die Presse,” Péter Techet wrote an op-ed on the new “Sovereignty Protection Act” that the Hungarian Parliament passed in December 2023. Techet criticizes that the sovereignty would be an absolute state power, and he highlights the anti-democratic dangers of sovereignty discourses.

The article can be read here.

Is NATO – 2 being created in Europe? – Experts share their views

Foreign experts, among whom the Director of the IDM and fellow of the Global Europe Center at the GLOBSEC Policy Institute in Bratislava Sebastian Schäffer,  shared their opinion regarding Italy Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani’s proposal of establishing an EU army as an alternative to NATO. How sensible does this “military” idea of Tajani look? What is the reason for the Italian politician to raise this issue now? What about current realities? Can such an army be established without Türkiye?

Read the full article with Ednews here.

Péter Techet for Pátria Rádió about the most important elections of 2024

Péter Techet gave an interview to the Hungarian-language program “Pátria Rádió” of the public broadcasting of Slovakia about the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections. The entire interview (in Hungarian) can be heard here.

Péter Techet on the reasons for authoritarianism in Serbia and Hungary

For the German newspaper “taz,” Péter Techet wrote an op-ed on why a democratic change is possible in Slovenia or Poland but repeatedly fails in Hungary and Serbia: One possible reason is that a signifant part of the society sees themselves as “losers of the history” and blames “the West” for it. As long as an anti-Western, nationalist climate dominates in society, a political change is hardly possible.

You can read the article here.

Daniela Apaydin für PULS24 über den NATO-Beitritt von Schweden und die Beziehung zwischen Ungarn und Türkei

Historikerin Daniela Apaydin spricht im Interview mit Anchor René Ach über den NATO-Beitritt von Schweden und die Beziehung zwischen Ungarn und Türkei.

Sehen Sie sich das Interview hier an.

Hungary as a Trojan Horse of the EU?

Sebastian Schäffer was interviewed by Eurasia Diary about the relation of Hungary with the EU. It is available in Azeri here.

Here are some excerpts in English:

“I don’t think that Viktor Oban is a Trojan horse of the Russian Federation inside the European Union. However, his actions and standpoint towards Ukraine, certainly serve the interest of Vladimir Putin. It is not the first time and it will unfortunately also not be the last time that the Hungarian Prime Minister is blackmailing Brussels. He needs the additional funds, and in order to unfreeze them he will not resort from using such despicable methods. It is politically, but also morally corrupt to try to gain a financial advantage on the backs of the Ukrainians who have been fighting for our freedom and our values and deserve not only the aid package, but also the opening of the negotiations that at least Orban didn’t veto, but he immediately after the decision has been taken (after he left the room as suggested by the German Chancellor) publicly denounced.”

Péter Techet on the Rise of Anti-Semitism in Europe in the Context of the Middle East Conflict

The Hungarian-language broadcast of the Slovak Radio conducted an interview with Péter Techet on the reasons behind the rise of anti-Semitism as a consequence of the Middle East conflict. Techet analyzed the pro-Israel stance of many right-wing populist parties, using it to conceal their anti-Muslim attitudes. At the same time, Techet discussed the anti-Semitic elements within the left and Muslim “anti-Zionism.”

The entire conversation (in Hungarian) can be heard here.