Zsuzsanna Vegh

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...

Trump’s quest to transform the West 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.

"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...

Europe Must Stand Firm and Support the Will of the Ukrainian People A new law threatens Ukraine’s reform efforts and therefore its EU accession aspirations.  The law, signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on July 22, demolishes the independence of two key…

🇺🇦 "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.

🔗

China’s Quiet Strategy in Bulgaria: Economic Appeal, Political Constraints

"🇧🇬 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

Central Europe’s Role in Ukraine’s Reconstruction More than three years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine faces an immense recovery and reconstruction challenge—regardless of when or how the war ends. With over 43,000 civilian lives lost an...

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

Rewriting the European Project? The balance and implications of Fidesz’s illiberal alliance-building in Europe Fidesz, by fostering ties with radical-right and sovereignist parties, financial support and media influence, has managed to build a European illiberal alliance that accumulated in the “Patriots for E...

📒 My recent paper on the topic, "Rewriting the European Project? The balance and implications of Fidesz’s illiberal alliance-building in Europe" published by the College of Eastern Europe, is available here: www.kew.org.pl/en/2025/05/0...

A Fidesz és a transznacionális szélsőjobb: hálózatépítés Európában A Fidesz évek óta nagy erőkkel építi nemzetközi szövetségi rendszerét. Az Új Egyenlőség podcastban Végh Zsuzsanna, a German Marshall Fund politikai elemzője mutatja be, hogyan vált a Fidesz Európa ill...

🎧 Our conversations and its short summary are available here (in Hungarian): ujegyenloseg.hu/a-fidesz-es-...

🎙️ 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.

YouTube video by The Global Agora Could Hungary's PM Orbán dismiss election results if he loses?

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 and Latin American Perspectives 🚨 What characterizes left-wing illiberalism in Europe and Latin America? Join our discussion! 🗓 June 19 ⏰16.00 CET

🌐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!

Summer School: Democratic Backsliding and Political Conflict

🧑‍🎓 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...

My pleasure! Looking forward to your article, Andrej.

💥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.

Poland’s presidential election result is a morale boost for Maga forces in Europe | Catherine De Vries Karol Nawrocki’s win is a blow for prime minister Donald Tusk – and it symbolises a larger battle over the political narrative, says policy expert Catherine De Vries

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 Poland and Hungary — giving European grievances US dollars Many still see Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) as a fringe gathering of ultra-nationalists, with no risk to our political systems. In reality this 'MAGA roadshow' is now a venue for un...

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...

Thanks for sharing my piece, Jan!

@gmfus.bsky.social

CPAC in Poland and Hungary — giving European grievances US dollars Many still see Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) as a fringe gathering of ultra-nationalists, with no risk to our political systems. In reality this 'MAGA roadshow' is now a venue for un...

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!

YouTube video by DW News Why Poland hosting US Conservative event CPAC reflects Europe's changing political landscape

📽️ 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...

Mushrooming Anti-NGO Legislation in EU Member States and Its Implications: The Cases of Hungary and Slovakia- Video Online Civil society is under concerted attack in Hungary and Slovakia. Experts explore what recent anti-NGO laws mean for democracy.

🚩“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

Mushrooming Anti-NGO Legislation in EU Member States and Its Implications: The Cases of Hungary and Slovakia 🚨 How do illiberal laws affect the civic space within the EU? Join our discussion! 🗓 May 28 ⏰15.00 CET

📢 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.