GMF’s Zsuzsanna Végh shared her insights with The Hill on the political impact of Orbán’s White House visit👇

"The White House meeting between Hungarian PM Orbán and US President Trump was about more than mere diplomacy. It was carefully crafted political theatre to showcase Orbán’s close ties with the White House as evidence of his standing on the global stage," writes GMF's Zsuzsanna Végh: buff.ly/V1dEnEN

⚡How does illiberalism transform Europe? Watch our discussion with 🎙️@petraguasti.bsky.social @charlesuni.cuni.cz 🎙️Marlene Laruelle @illsp.bsky.social @gwu1821.bsky.social 🎙️Bálint Mikola @ceudeminst.bsky.social Chair: @veghzsuzsanna.bsky.social @gmfus.bsky.social ▶️ youtu.be/xg6sPTQfsc0

Online discussion | Democracy Under Pressure: How Illiberal Politics Reshape Europe 🗓️ Oct 31 | 🕒 15:00 CET Illiberal politics transform European democracies. But how deeply? 🗣️ Petra Guasti, Marlene Laruelle, Bálint Mikola, Zsuzsanna Végh Register: www.authlib.eu/democracy-un...

🌍 Democratic backsliding doesn’t stop at national borders. At the Polish Eastern Policy Conference organized by the College of Eastern Europe (KEW), I joined Vit Dostal, Tomas Strazay & Maria Wincławska to explore political dynamics in Czechia, Hungary & Slovakia, and what they mean for the region.

I had the pleasure of chairing a panel coorganized by @gmfus.bsky.social & @europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu at the annual Forum 2000 conference on the future of European democracy support after the US' retreat from the field.

Andrej Babiš may become the second prime minister from the far-right EU group Patriots for Europe but he is not Orbán. His comeback brings both change and continuity in Prague. My post-election assessment for @gmfus.bsky.social www.gmfus.org/news/czechia...

The European far right does not need its voters to know who Charlie Kirk was to make use of him, write @pawelzerka.bsky.social @ecfrpower.bsky.social https://bit.ly/46XO1L0

Avui al CIDOB, en una nova sessió del cicle "Què passa al món?", analitzem l'impacte de la creixent normalització de les forces d'ultradreta amb @veghzsuzsanna.bsky.social, Camil Ungureanu, @ccolomina.bsky.social i Héctor Sánchez. Segueix el diàleg en directe! ▶️ www.youtube.com/@CIDOBBarcel...

I'm at @cidobbarcelona.bsky.social today to discuss the normalization of the far right and its impact on democracy and Europe's future w/ Camil Ungureanu (Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Carme Colomina and Héctor Sánchez Margalef (CIDOB). Tune in at 18:30 CET ⤵️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Tkb...

This Thursday, we celebrate the retirement and work of Michael Minkenberg, one of the most underrated scholars of far-right politics. I will give an online keynote but there is also a great in-person panel with, among others, @andreapirro.it & @veghzsuzsanna.bsky.social Sign up here! 👇

On Tuesday, 7 October, we will examine the growing normalisation of far-right forces, and the impact this may have on democracy and the future of European integration, with @veghzsuzsanna.bsky.social, Camil Ungureanu, @ccolomina.bsky.social and Héctor Sánchez. Join us! 🔗 bit.ly/CicleQPM_Far...

Looking forward to discuss the far right challenge to Europe next week at @cidobbarcelona.bsky.social in Barcelona.

💥Excited to join Budapest Forum organized by Political Capital, @ceudeminst.bsky.social & the City of Budapest. I'll chair a panel from 16:30 CET on Ukraine's future in Europe w/ Jim O'Brien @ecfr.eu, Renáta Uitz (CEU) & Dorka Takácsy (CEID). Follow the livestream: www.facebook.com/share/v/1EhY...

"The Trump administration is drawing on Roman Empire imagery, and Trump’s own version of Christianity, to reinforce its perception of Western values and impose conditional bilateral partnerships." Read my latest piece for @ecfr.eu ecfr.eu/article/trum...

🇺🇦 "The EU must emphasize that compliance with anti‑corruption norms is a prerequisite for next budget disbursements and for macro‑financial support packages," writes GMF's Iryna Khomiak, of the recent threats against the independence of two key anti-corruption bodies in Ukraine. 🔗

"🇧🇬 Bulgaria presents an opportunity for 🇨🇳 China to expand its footprint in Central and Eastern Europe—primarily through economic channels, but with growing attention to security and soft-power influence." Read my and Asya Metodieva’s latest report: @gmfus.bsky.social

JOIN TOMORROW! 🤝What role for Central Europe in Ukraine's reconstruction? 📌 July 15|4.00 p.m. CET|Online #ReThinkCEE fellow Dominik Istrate, Bogdan Zawadewicz (Polish Development Bank), Ievgeniia Bodnya & @veghzsuzsanna.bsky.social explore CE's recovery efforts in Ukraine. @gmfus.bsky.social

🎙️ What is the goal & impact of Fidesz's European alliance-building? How does the far right influence European politics? A year after the foundation of the Patriots for Europe group, we talked about this with @bironagyandras.bsky.social from Policy Solutions.

Teaser to the debate with @veghzsuzsanna.bsky.social: #TheGlobalAgora #podcast. How nervous is Hungary's PM Viktor Orbán about Péter Magyar's Tisza Party? 🎥 youtube.com/shorts/YwWOP... 🎙 The whole episode ko-fi.com/post/How-ner...

Something related: My #podcast, #TheGlobalAgora, with @veghzsuzsanna.bsky.social - How nervous is Hungary's PM Viktor Orbán about Péter Magyar's Tisza Party? 🎙 ko-fi.com/post/How-ner... #Hungary #politics #EU #V4

🌐Leftist Illiberalisms: European & Latin American Perspectives 📆 June 19 | 🕰️4:00 p.m. CET Illiberalism is typically associated with the radical right—but some leftist movements also adopted illiberal forms. Register and join our discussion!

🧑‍🎓 Are you a PhD student researching democratic backsliding and political conflict? 📨 Apply by July 30 for the summer school organized by the Scuola Normale Superiore in September in Cortona, Italy. Find out more on our and SNS's website! 🔗 www.authlib.eu/summer-schoo...

💥Breaking: Orbán's government backs off its foreign agent law, delaying it indefinitely (no vote before autumn), citing the need to study feedback. 🇪🇺Sources tell me key ministers—Tibor Navracsics, Gergely Gulyás, and Antal Rogán—oppose it, fearing public backlash and EU retaliation via Article 7.

My take on the broader implications of the outcome of Polish presidential elections published in the Guardian today. ps. this is not the title I chose… 👇🏽 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

🇵🇱⚖️🗳️ The rule of law repair process in Poland just got incredibly more difficult. I expect President Nawrocki to be even less cooperative than Duda, as Nawrocki will work hard for a PiS parliamentary election victory. Tough times ahead. 1/

This brings us one step closer to a legal victory that is aimed at ensuring that the Pride march in Budapest will be held peacefully and lawfully on 28 June!

Many Hungarians protest Orban’s Starve and Strangle Law and for independent civil society and media in #Budapest and other cities. Protesters march in complete silence and mouth plastered showing the aim of Orban’s law.

CPAC in CEE highlights a growing far-right transatlantic alliance. Democratic forces must too strengthen their networks, compete on culture, and reclaim patriotism & sovereignty to safeguard a democratic EU & transatlantic alliance. My latest for @euobserver.com euobserver.com/eu-political...

Great English summary of the Policy Solutions research 'ORBÁN15' on @telexhu.bsky.social, a leading Hungarian news site. Highly recommended to all interested in how Hungarians view the Orbán government’s performance in the past 15 years! 👉 telex.hu/english/2025...

CPAC in CEE highlights a growing far-right transatlantic alliance. Democratic forces must too strengthen their networks, compete on culture, and reclaim patriotism & sovereignty to safeguard a democratic EU & transatlantic alliance. My latest for @euobserver.com euobserver.com/eu-political...

Looking forward to reading Nate on democracy, authoritarianism, and the far right in the US and abroad. Give him a follow!

📽️ After the first ever CPAC in Poland, the gathering is now in full swing in Hungary bringing together far right actors from around the globe. Earlier this week, I spoke to Deutsche Welle about CPAC's Central European roadshow, its timing, and significance. www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5WO...

🚩“Russian-style” anti-NGO laws are entering EU member states 🗨️ Katarína Batková (Via Juris), Márta Pardavi (Hungarian Helsinki Committee), R. Daniel Kelemen (Georgetown Uni) & Daniel Hegedus @gmfus.bsky.social explain what this means for democracy—and what can be done

📢 Event alert | 📅 May 28 | ⏰ 3:00 p.m. CET | 📍Online Recently adopted anti-NGO laws in Hungary and Slovakia threaten democracy. These Russian-style laws serve to intimidate critics and silence dissent. Join our guests as they explore their impact on civil society.

🌊 Will Fidesz stop Tisza's tide? Hungary’s 2026 parliamentary vote will decide if Orbán’s authoritarian grip is broken or cemented. Faced with a challenge, Fidesz is ramping up pressure. My piece for @gssc-lt.bsky.social on where we are and what to expect. www.gssc.lt/en/publicati...

320+ Civil Society Organisations Urge European Commission to Halt Orban’s Latest Crackdown on Media and NGOs /1

www.gmfus.org/event/dayton... Tune in! @gmfus.bsky.social

🌊 Will Fidesz stop Tisza's tide? Hungary’s 2026 parliamentary vote will decide if Orbán’s authoritarian grip is broken or cemented. Faced with a challenge, Fidesz is ramping up pressure. My piece for @gssc-lt.bsky.social on where we are and what to expect. www.gssc.lt/en/publicati...

The so-called “Transparency Law”, currently pending approval, significantly undermines freedom of expression in Hungary — and its impacts are unlikely stop at the country’s borders. 444.hu/2025/05/22/v...

One year until Hungary’s parliamentary vote: Péter Magyar’s Tisza tops polls against Fidesz’s 15-year rule. @veghzsuzsanna.bsky.social reveals public discontent, smear campaigns & legislative changes. For more read here👇 #hungary

🎧 Hogy váltja fel a hagyományos diplomáciát a pártdiplomácia a Fidesz eszköztárában? Hogy zajlik az orbáni befolyásépítés külföldön? Hogy alakulnak a Fidesz és MAGA körök közötti kapcsolatok? Feledy Botonddal beszélgettünk a Partizán Podcast stúdiójában április elején. rss.com/podcasts/par...

Trump's MAGA agenda isn't just reshaping America—it’s targeting Europe. In her latest policy brief, @celiabelin.bsky.social dissects how his second term could challenge the EU’s unity, economy, and global role.

💭 How is Fidesz reshaping Europe from within? In my new paper for the College of Eastern Europe, I explore how Hungary’s ruling party builds an illiberal alliance in the EU—and what it means for the European integration. 🧵 Link to paper and key points below.

PM Orbán is tightening control ahead of the 2026 election: intimidating critics, banning Pride, allowing the use of facial recognition. These moves aren't unique. We've seen them in Russia, Turkey, Serbia - now they enter the EU. My piece for @gmfus.bsky.social ⤵️ www.gmfus.org/news/authori...

Rubio publicly criticizing an ally for cracking down on right-wing extremism. And Germany hitting back. We are in a new world

This spring marks 15 years of Orbán in power & 15 years of democratic erosion in Hungary. In our book chapter co-authored w/ @sonjapriebus.bsky.social @viadrina.bsky.social, we traced how Hungary's young democracy became an electoral autocracy. Published by Springer, find the book here: t.ly/U_Lxi

The German Marshall Fund is pleased to announce that Dr. Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer has been appointed as the organization's next president, marking the start of a new chapter for the organization. Learn more: bit.ly/4iFzeYW

Trump's alliance with Europe's far right is a double-edged sword—culture war meets trade war. In their latest piece, Jeremy Shapiro and Zsuzsanna Végh explore how this transatlantic partnership could reshape the EU from within.

🇭🇺 Hungary is rated Partly Free by #FreedomInTheWorld 2025. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party retained their grip on the country’s democracy, which remained the lowest-scoring among European Union member-states in 2024. Learn more: freedomhouse.org/country/hung...