My latest 📰 for @istinomer.bsky.social The 🇭🇺 lesson for 🇷🇸 it’s not that Orbán was finally defeated. It is that the hope and protests that get ppl to the streets has to become an org: local networks, volunteers, voter contact and election-day capacity. Its org turns that hope into electoral power.

From the Streets to the Ballot Box: What Hungary Can Teach Serbia

As Serbia gears up for what many already describe as a historic election (even though we still don’t know the date yet), the challenge is not simply whether an entrenched government can be defeated, b...

english.istinomer.rs

If an election were held today, 🇷🇸 political map would look very different. The Student List leads among decided voters, suggesting that 🇷🇸 protests and political mobilisation may be reshaping electoral politics in ways that seemed unlikely not long ago. (🧵/end) @crtaplus.bsky.social

Serbia isn't just polarised, it's increasingly split between the democracy people want and the democracy they believe they already have. @crta.bsky.social latest public opinion survey offers a fascinating snapshot as the country heads toward what could be a politically 💥 autumn. (🧵/1)

It's been impossible to be in Brussels this week without hearing discussions about the European Democracy Shield. Following the EP’s adoption of proposals to strengthen and improve the EUDS, the conversation is now moving into implementation, priorities, and practical action. (🧵/1)

📌 Final panel on the European Democracy Shield: "Civil society is the last line of defence when public institutions weaken. They’re not complementing democracy, but rather keeping it alive" 🎙️Tjaša Feher, EU Advocacy Manager, EUCrta #EPDAC2026 @tjasafeher.bsky.social @eucrta.bsky.social

Big day at work for Nikola Vučurević, head of the AP Vojvodina office at Serbia’s Mission in Brussels. Not diplomacy, not citizens' interests. Just roaming outside the European Parliament taking secret photos of Serbian students for Informer like an unpaid intern for regime media.

By this time tomorrow, Péter Magyar will be inaugurated as the new 🇭🇺 PM and with that, the 16 year nightmare of the Orbán era officially ends. In my piece for @istinomer.bsky.social, I argue that the real story is much bigger than one election result. (🧵/1) english.istinomer.rs/analyses/wha...

What comes after the Orbán Era?

I was standing in the crowd when it happened, surrounded by a mix of celebration and disbelief that felt difficult to reconcile in real time. There was elation, certainly, but also something quieter: ...

english.istinomer.rs

BREAKING: Viktor Orbán quits Hungary's parliament after 36 years – confirming my earlier scoop that he's planning a longer US trip this summer, where heads of the Orbán business empire – his daughter and son-in-law – already live, and where he could possibly seek refuge from prosecution.

This is it, the only image you need to see from Budapest tonight. 16 years of state capture, corruption, misuse of public funds and the gradual erosion of the rule of law is over. Accountability stats tomorrow. Good morning Europe Hungary is back! #HungarianElection2026

🇭🇺🗳️#HungarianElections THREAD 1/2 3:00 pm turnout: 66% Turnout is already close—four hours before polls close—to where it ended in 2018 and 2022. I have already written about the structural impact of high turnout, so here is a different aspect.

Reposting this thread for one last time. Early morning participation is already at record high, on track for a record turnout. Happy voting! 🇭🇺

Zselyke Csaky@zecsaky.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Two of the latest polls, from previously quite accurate pollsters, show a Tisza lead of ~20pp in Hungary. But can the opposition really win? Why is Orban on the backfoot? And what happens after April 12? 🇭🇺Hungary elections thread 🧵

🇭🇺Hungary’s turnout is breaking records: 16.89% by 9am (2022: 10.31%). Areas where the opposition Tisza party did well in last year’s EP vote are overperforming. Urban, strongly anti-Orbán voters—who tend to vote later—are just starting to head to the polls. Follow me for #HungaryElection updates!

#HungarianElection2026: Good morning from Budapest. Early turnout is notably strong: in the first hour of voting (by 7am) participation reached 3.46%. Nearly double the 1.8% recorded at the same time four years ago. On this trajectory, it’s not an especially encouraging signal for Fidesz’s campaign.

For the first time in more than a decade, real political change in #Hungary no longer feels out of reach. The sense of inevitability that has defined Viktor Orbán’s rule, his image as an unchallengeable political force, appears to be cracking. (🧵/1) english.istinomer.rs/analyses/the...

💥 A bipartisan pair of US senators are set to introduce legislation calling for sanctions to be imposed on senior Hungarian officials involved in obstructing aid to Ukraine. Senators Shaheen (D-NH) and Tillis (R-NC) are set to introduce the legislation this week.

US senators aim to sanction Hungary over obstructing Ukraine aid

Bipartisan bill from Shaheen and Tillis comes as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán holds up €90bn loan to Kyiv

ft.com

‘Szíjjartó, the foreign minister, made regular phone calls during breaks at EU meetings to provide his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, with “live reports on what’s been discussed” and possible solutions, one of the European security officials said.’ www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/0...

To tilt Hungarian election, Russians proposed staging assassination attempt

To aid Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a friend of Russia, in his election, operatives proposed “the Gamechanger” — a staged assassination attempt to stir supporters.

washingtonpost.com

Quite a picture from AP: Viktor Orbán watches from outside the main table as Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to EU leaders via video link.

Hungary’s Viktor Orbán has faced “very, very harsh” criticism at the European Council, Sweden’s PM Ulf Kristersson said. It’s a level of condemnation he says he has never heard at an EU summit before. Follow our live blog: www.politico.eu/article/make...

EXCLUSIVE: Slovenia’s PM Robert Golob has urged European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to investigate accusations that Israeli spy firm Black Cube interfered in the country’s election campaign, according to a letter we obtained.

Slovenia urges EU to probe reports that Israeli spies meddled in election race

Black Cube operatives are accused of “illegal surveillance” after leaked recordings blew up the campaign ahead of March 22 vote.

politico.eu

Izraelski obveščevalci v Sloveniji Predstavnika največje zasebne obveščevalne agencije na svetu, izraelske družbe Black Cube, sta konec decembra pristala v Ljubljani in se sestala z Janezom Janšo. Piše Borut Mekina, več na www.mladina.si ‼️

Less than a month to the 🇭🇺 parliamentary elections. The campaign is brutal. The stakes historic. And yet, I can’t shake one feeling: hope. For the first time since 2010, real change no longer feels impossible in 🇭🇺. Maybe this is my generation’s 'most vagy soha' moment. 1/🧵

As @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu arrives in Belgrade tomorrow, every word, handshake, and photo with those in power will be watched closely by students and 🇷🇸 citizens who, for 11 months, have faced violence while fighting for fundamental rights and democracy. It's time for🇪🇺 to choose a side!

🚨 Over the past week, the situation in #Serbia has worsened dramatically. Peaceful protests are being met with violence, intimidation, and propaganda. Citizens, including minors, are facing brutal treatment at the hands of the state. #SerbiaProtests (🧵/1)

Thrilled to be part of Thursday’s @humanrightsfirst.org panel (5pm CET / 11am EST) alongside some fantastic people. We’ll be covering corruption, human rights, and sanctions, and what recent changes mean for accountability. It’s August, but this promises to be great summer brain food. Join us!

Adam Keith@adamofkeith.bsky.social · last yr.

Join us @humanrightsfirst.org this Thursday at 11 am ET for a virtual panel on the Trump administration's thinly-justified lifting of several targeted sanctions related to human rights abuse and corruption. Sign up here: humanrightsfirst.org/events/sanct...

So, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), the direct successor to the Soviet-era KGB, has officially started meddling in next year’s Hungarian elections. They issued a statement claiming the 🇪🇺 Commission is pushing for 'regime change in Budapest.' That’s… wild. tinyurl.com/46xsjx87 🧵/1

Putyin pórázt villantott az orosz hírszerzési jelentéssel, amivel beszállt a magyar választási kampányba

Azzal, hogy az orosz kémszolgálat adott ki közleményt, Putyin félreérthetetlenné tette, hogy kifejezetten hírszerzési művelet keretében foglalkozik a magyar belpolitikával. Buda Péter szerint egy évek...

tinyurl.com

🚧 Protests in Serbia: since 29 June, until today, @crta.bsky.social has recorded more than 500 arrests at largely peaceful protests and blockades across 🇷🇸. Most of those arrested have been released just hours after they were detained, with misdemeanor charges for traffic violations. (1/🧵)

📋⚠️ Updates from #Serbia: in #Užice (SW Serbia), 7 citizens were detained for breaking through a 🚔 cordon during a highway blockade. bit.ly/44oyx2t In response, citizens began blocking the local courthouse, demanding that all detainees be released - otherwise they'll escalate protests. (1/🧵)

Još dvojici uhapšenih Užičana određen pritvor do 30 dana, počela blokada suda

Za još dva Užičanina, koji su privedeni posle protesta u tom gradu, određen je pritvor do 30 dana. Pritvor je određen Branku Jovanoviću i Marku Krejoviću. Građa

bit.ly

Stop the police violence and repression of students and ordinary Serb citizens. #blokada #Serbiaprotests

#Belgrade right now: citizens are blocking main roads, intersections and bridges in a response to yesterday’s police brutality and mass arrests of students. Let the civil disobedience commence. Blokada, blokada. 🤍🇷🇸

Budapest Pride 🏳️‍🌈🇭🇺 the ban backfired! Peaceful, safe, happy and huge! Organisers estimate a crowd over 200,000 people.