Finally, our article explains why the EU can't just sit by, but must actively guide/support democratic frontsliding in MSs like HU & PL. Yes, we focus on PL, but our argument can also inform debates about HU. Debating which lessons travel across both contexts -and which don't- will be key! (6/6)

Helpfully, our article proposes normative criteria to distinguish reforms that restore liberal democracy/EU membership from actions that perpetuate backsliding. Want to know why Magyar committing to joining the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) is so important? Then read our piece! (5/6)

If in PL the problem is how to overcome 'constitutional' obstacles to restoring democracy (the Pres/Const Tribunal) in HU the problem is how to ensure that TISZA/Magyar don't purge the state of Fidesz loyalists & then replace them w/ their own👉too early for EU to declare "mission accomplished!"(4/6)

In PL after the '23 elections, the Civic Coalition lacked a supermajority to dismantle autocratic enclaves via ordinary legislative means. Our article proposes what restorative disobedience can look like given these constraints. But in HU, TISZA won a supermajority: smooth sailing? Not so fast (3/6)

What's our argument? 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, for the elected gov't confronts the problem of "𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴" that survive electoral turnover. Dismantling these enclaves may require transgressive acts of defiance & even rule-breaking, or "𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦"(2/6)

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝗨 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴? Yesterday's #election in #Hungary forces us to grapple w/ the politics of "𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨." In @jeppjournal.bsky.social, @chrishillion.bsky.social, @ascherz.bsky.social & I have an argument- and warning- from Poland 👇thread

New paper w/ @chrishillion.bsky.social & @tommasopavone.bsky.social What does it take not just to defend democracy—but to rebuild it? Developing the concepts of democratic frontsliding and restorative disobedience we analyze how liberal democracy can be restored: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

The EU Council will discuss suspending Hungary’s voting rights under Article 7. The charge is serious breaches of European values including judicial independence and minority rights. The date has been set for May 27. If it passes it’ll stop Hungary blocking Russian sanctions and Ukraine aid.

🇷🇺🪆When will the EU finally realize who Orbán is serving? Surely not Hungarian interests. "All European Union nations but Hungary signed a joint statement Thursday backing Ukraine, the second time in a month that Budapest was the bloc’s sole member to decline to sign such a statement of support."

🇪🇺⚖️ Recruitment for the 2025/2026 cohort of re:constitution fellowships is now open! Are you a European scholar or practitioner dealing with the rule of law and democracy? We offer you a (funded) opportunity to join a group of excellent people. Spread the word! www.reconstitution.eu/en/news/news...

10 reasons to study at one of @collegeofeurope.bsky.social top Master’s programmes in Bruges, Natolin, or Tirana. Apply before 15 January 2025 👉 www.coleurope.eu/apply