Backsliding democracy: Zsuzsanna Szelenyi on Hungary
What would the freezing of EU-funds mean for Hungary-EU relations and Hungary’s role in the union?
Hungary
Mind the gaps: The pending suspension of Hungary’s EU funds
The European Commission’s agreement with Hungary on anti-corruption reforms is significant. But, even if the Hungarian government does implement them, the measures alone are not sufficient to reverse democratic backsliding in the country
Orban’s integrity office: Everything is legal but nothing is democratic
Viktor Orban has had 12 years to learn how to circumvent democratic reforms. The European Commission should bide its time in assessing whether to suspend funding to Hungary
The game is not over: Fidesz, Law and Justice, and far-right cooperation in the EU
The war in Ukraine has driven a wedge between Hungary’s Fidesz and Poland’s Law and Justice parties. But they could still mount a powerful challenge to the EU if – or, rather, when – they reunite in their opposition to rule of law demands
Law or less: Why Orban’s rule threatens the European project
The goal of preserving European unity could hinder the EU’s fight against democratic backsliding in Hungary. To remain a community of values, the union needs to keep up the pressure on the country’s leader
Alignment or isolation: Hungary’s foreign policy after its parliamentary election
Hungary’s parliamentary election could be a turning point in its foreign policy. An opposition win could mean realignment with the EU, but polls suggest that it might be a tight race
Mixmaster Orban: Why Hungary’s prime minister keeps changing his tune
The EU should not fall for Orban’s attempts to distance himself from Putin. The Hungarian leader may now present himself as a pillar of European unity but, fundamentally, he has not changed
Why the EU’s rule of law mechanism won’t resolve its democratic crisis
It is crucial for the European Commission to resolutely defend the rule of law. If it settles for a rotten compromise with Warsaw, there will be a risk of legal chaos in the EU
The road back to democracy in central Europe
The selection of a lead opposition candidate in Hungary is a promising sign for the strength of democracy in Europe. Democrats throughout the EU should lend their support to restoring the rule of law
Friends like these: How foreign policy could derail an alliance of Europe’s populist right
A populist alliance in the European Parliament may prove unworkable because of the parties’ diverging global outlooks