💥💰 Slovakia’s defense minister Robert Kaliňák wants to buy weapons for the Slovak army from Grand Power, a firm owned by a onetime far-right ally. These guns have a poor reputation, and Kaliňák’s own company operates from premises linked to Grand Power. @vsquare.bsky.social

Poland is in talks with the US over establishing a "Polish gas hub" that will receive increased quantities of American LNG, which will then be supplied to Ukraine and Slovakia.

Incoming #Czech gov't triggers alarm over public media plans with thx to @vstetka.bsky.social @marinaurbanikova.bsky.social www.dw.com/en/incoming-...

UPDATED Zbigniew Ziobro Denies Seeking Political Asylum in Hungary, Meets Orbán in Budapest ━ The European Conservative https://www.byteseu.com/1497166/ Former Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro (PiS) has denied reports that he applied for political asylum in Hungary. In an interview with …

Hilarious. Orban's face is a complete movie as it runs through a gamut of expressions from hopeful to completely confused to absolutely terrified 🤣

Fico announces Slovak deal with US to build new nuclear power capacity.

No EU member state liekly to hit targets on reducing Roma poverty, report finds

Slovakia's parliament has approved a constitutional amendment enshrining the existence of just two genders.

#Slovakia's government fighting on all fronts w thx to @matisaksk.bsky.social Michal Simecka and Radoslav Stefancik www.dw.com/en/slovakia-...

Cracking piece by @tgoscee.bsky.social documents millions being spent by Orban / Fidesz on a bunch of disinformation across multiple EU countries balkaninsight.com/2025/07/28/h...

See Orban's ban of Budapest Pride is going well ...

Czech Republic to become the first in Europe to legalise magic mushrooms for mental health treatment? www.thetimes.com/world/europe...

Central Europe's right-wing populist networks up their game p.dw.com/p/4vT8Y

Journalist who broke the Bitcoin scandal now roiling the #Czech govt says the focus is being turned on her as a distraction from the multiplying questions re: who knew what, when, where the money came from, how much there was, who accessed it etc etc ...

Excellent analysis here from my colleague @aslak.bsky.social arguing for the activation of the ACI against Russia to get rid of Hungary's veto threat.

South Korea's KHNP and the #Czech government have completed the long-delayed signing of the contract to expand the Dukovany nuclear plant ct24.ceskatelevize.cz/clanek/domac...

New (IDEA) poll from Hungary confirms continued advantage of opposition Tisza Party over Fidesz (44 vs 37 among decided voters). Left-liberal Democratic Coalition & extreme right Our Homeland around the threshold. MSZP, Jobbik, LMP, PM - leading opposition parties in the mid-2010s - are at 0%.

Slovak PM Fico has accused a judge of 'criminal acts' and serving the opposition after the conviction of his former finance minister for bribery aje.io/vsx3s3

A group of Republican lawmakers has written to the EU to raise concern that “Obama, Soros, and the Globalist Left are trying to rig Poland’s presidential election” in favour of the centrist, government-aligned candidate against his conservative rival.

#Czech Republic accuses #China of running "malicious cyber campaign" against its foreign ministry mzv.cz/jnp/cz/udalo...

🇨🇿🗳️Election watch: Czech independent media are being squeezed at the worst possible time. Read Albin Sybera's analysis⤵️

MEPs debated the "Russian style" Hungarian law. Commissioner McGrath raised some concerns, but didn't announce any action. nepszava.hu/3280615_atla...

Hungary: Foreign funding bill poses most serious threat to independent media in years ipi.media/hungary-fore...

Dozens of news outlets, think tanks and rights groups published an open letter protesting against planned legislation that they said is meant to silence criticism of the Hungarian government.

#Hungary's new "Transparency Bill" surpasses all previous efforts in its open attack on basic democratic norms and fundamental rights & on the core principles of EU law and the authority of the @ec.europa.eu . My piece for @euobserver.com 👇 euobserver.com/rule-of-law/... @gmfus.bsky.social

Diplomatic spat ignites as #Poland accuses #Russia of sabotage aje.io/2du8c0 via @ajenglish.bsky.social

Ukraine accuses duo of spying for Hungary aje.io/1krtsz

Pellegrini vs Fico: Is It Theatre or War between #Slovakia’s President and PM? balkaninsight.com/2025/05/05/p...

👩‍👧‍👦💰Peak nepotism: Today, Donald Trump Jr. speaks at a closed-door business forum held at Orbán’s daughter and son-in-law’s luxury hotel in Budapest. The same hotel the Orbáns used to milk EU delegations during Hungary’s EU presidency—just like Trump did with his DC hotel: vsquare.org/hungary-eu-p...

HOW HAVE VIEWS OF MAJOR POWERS IN V4 CHANGED? Our polling reveals that: ❌ 🇷🇺 #Russia's image has significantly deteriorated since 2020 ✅ 🇺🇸 The #USA remains the most positively seen major power 🆗 🇨🇳 #China's perception is largely immune to geopolitical change Take a closer look at our 📈!

Will Trump's tariffs break 'backbone' of Slovakian economy?

🇪🇺 🇨🇿 Good news from @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu. #Czechia is a proud host to @rferl.org.web.brid.gy in Prague.

#Hungary's ruling party has submitted a bill to ban @budapestpride by changing the constitution to restrict the right of assembly. Menacing move for the right to protest.

Great article by @tgoscee.bsky.social on the growing suppression of #CivilSociety in #Hungary #Slovakia #Serbia & how changes in the Transatlantic space catalyze it, with quotes from @milanninberlin.bsky.social & yours truly. @deutschewelle.bsky.social www.dw.com/en/civil-soc...

Facing political challenges at home and emboldened by #Trump's dismantling of #USAID, the governments of #Hungary, #Serbia and #Slovakia are cracking down on civil society. With insight from @danielhegedus.bsky.social @milanninberlin.bsky.social Budapest Pride p.dw.com/p/4rfhL

Poland's conservative opposition enthusiastically welcomed Donald Trump's return to the White House, but it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to maintain a tough anti-Russian line while also showing allegiance to the US president, writes @danieltilles1.bsky.social.

Today, Czech MPs approved an increase in licence fees for public service media and introduced a system of automatic indexation based on inflation. Given the current climate across Europe, it is almost a miracle. I spoke about the developments for Balkan Insight: balkaninsight.com/2025/02/26/b...

The #Czech lower house has passed a bill to raise the licence fee for public service media. However, Czech Television and Czech Radio could face a bigger threat following elections in the autumn ipi.media/czechia-publ...

Russia paid recruits in Poland to carry out tasks including spray-painting vulgar slogans attacking the then ruling PiS party and President Duda. The operatives, hired online and paid in cryptocurrency, also carried out espionage on behalf of Russia.

Hungary says it will veto the new upcoming EU sanctions package unless several people are excluded from it. Per Systema, here are the people Budapest wants left off. t.me/systemasyste...

Excellent analysis of the latest developments in the long & tortuous struggle to secure financial sustainability and political independence of the #Czech public service media.

Battle Over #Czech Public Service Broadcaster: Another Rerun balkaninsight.com/2025/02/26/b... w insight from @vstetka.bsky.social @marinaurbanikova.bsky.social balkaninsight.com/2025/02/26/b...

Slovak government teeters as more mass protests planned, by @tgoscee.bsky.social www.dw.com/en/slovak-go... #Slovakia #politics

Back to the streets in Slovakia tomorrow ... Good write up from @tgoscee.bsky.social www.dw.com/en/slovak-go...

#Slovakia PM Fico is looking increasingly panicky, with rallies planned in more than 50 towns and cities for Friday. p.dw.com/p/4q6Rf

🥳🇨🇿 This is huge! Czechs are the first to join the EU Commission’s lawsuit against Orbán’s Russia-style foreign agent law, which targets Hungarian anti-corruption and environmental activists, plus investigative journalists. A key symbolic move and show of solidarity. Děkuji!🙏

Good piece on culture wars that don't exactly exist in Slovak society, yet Fico / Smer use to tie up parliamentary time & chew through social media Just exhausting .. which is the point @tgoscee.bsky.social spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clano...

Performing his common trick, #Hungary's Orban looks set to back down on his threat to block EU sanctions against #Russia when it comes to the crunch. www.reuters.com/world/europe...

Huge protest in Bratislava this evening against PM Fico's pro-Russian foreign policy moves. Fico claims that a coup is being organised against his #Slovakia's govt.