Daniel Hegedus

I had the pleasure yesterday of discussing with @tvpworld.bsky.social the collapse of the Budapest “Peace Summit,” the latest EUCO developments, and Hungarian domestic politics, with a focus on the mobilization contest around the October 23 national holiday.
👉 www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF9s...

Budapest Summit cancelled/on ice.
thehill.com/homenews/adm...

Holding a Trump-Putin summit in Budapest would be a charade Vladimir Putin would have to cross the airspace of at least one, if not more, EU and Nato member states to reach Budapest. This would mean that one EU country, under US pressure, would have to breach ...

The plan of the Budapest summit is an unfriendly move by the U.S. that rewards Putin and Orbán while ridiculing the EU.
But the EU can do more behind closed doors than merely cross its fingers for an Alaska-like, fruitless summit.
My piece for @euobserver.com
euobserver.com/eu-and-the-w...

Holding a Trump-Putin summit in Budapest would be a charade Vladimir Putin would have to cross the airspace of at least one, if not more, EU and Nato member states to reach Budapest. This would mean that one EU country, under US pressure, would have to breach ...

The plan of the Budapest summit is an unfriendly move by the U.S. that rewards Putin and Orbán while ridiculing the EU.
But the EU can do more behind closed doors than merely cross its fingers for an Alaska-like, fruitless summit.
My piece for @euobserver.com
euobserver.com/eu-and-the-w...

4.
These tests should serve as triggers for requesting interim measures from the CJEU and for suspending the implementation of anti-NGO laws adopted by illiberal, anti-democratic EU governments.
More on this will be coming soon in writing.

3.
... and recommended that the @ec.europa.eu
anchor the tests established in international law—regarding the restriction of fundamental rights—in its infringement procedures.

2.
While learning a great deal about similar practices in India and Kenya, I emphasized the innovative nature of the Hungarian and Slovak laws, their role as blueprints in illiberal transnational learning ...

It was a real honor and privilege to speak about anti-NGO laws in the European Union at Forum 2000, alongside great colleagues and with @kenlcg.bsky.social as our excellent moderator.
THREAD 1/4
@gmfus.bsky.social @engagingce.bsky.social
@authlibeu.bsky.social @ceudeminst.bsky.social

8.
but with strong political interest to actively use those services in order to strengthen his/her own political position as minister in the government.

7.
4) Last, a takeaway which is not in the interview. The case demonstrate why no government should appoint a minister in controll of a country's foreign intelligence service with zero international experience (and therefore low sensitivity for the protential diplomatic fallout) ...

6.
3) The mere fact that the Commission launched an investigation does not mean we will have clarity any time soon. The establishment of investigative task forces can serve to cover up a case just as much as to clarify its circumstances. Time will tell what the Commission’s true intentions are.

5.
This is due to the exceptionally aggressive and amateurish approach of Hungarian foreign intelligence operatives, which ultimately led to the exposure of their network.

4.
2) It is not unique or exceptional that EU Member States use their nationals working in EU institutions as intelligence sources or assets. What is unique in the current case is that it is being publicly discussed and will be officially investigated by the Commission.

3.
There is nothing surprising about the revelation that they use intelligence services to spy on EU institutions, with which they have been in a decade-long legal and political conflict.

YouTube video by TALKING WITH TVP WORLD Hungarian espionage operation | Daniel Hegedüs

2.
1) The Hungarian regime has been using active measures to influence the domestic politics of EU Member States for years.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgjY...

I had the pleasure to discuss the alleged case of Hungarian espionage against the European Commission with TVP World @tvpworld.bsky.social.
Find the link and my main points in THREAD.

YouTube video by AUTHLIB Bohemia Illiberalis? Perspectives on Czechia’s Future after the Elections

4/4
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oGG...

3/4
Instead of isolating Babiš, they should reach out to him early and aim to integrate him into a pro-EU consensus, as they successfully did with Meloni. The preconditions for successful integration are present in his pragmatic, non-ideological, and Western-oriented profile.

Event Video - Bohemia Illiberalis? Perspectives on Czechia’s Future After the Elections What will the return of Andrej Babis mean for Czech domestic politics and foreign policy? Our experts discuss in the immediate aftermath of the parliamentary election.

2/4
If Western actors fear the (re-)emergence of a Central European axis between Babiš, Orbán, and Fico, they should not respond to the Czech election results with reservations, but rather take a proactive approach.
www.authlib.eu/event-video-...

We had an extremely informative and in-depth election readout with Andrea Michalcová, @petraguasti.bsky.social & Vít Dostál about the domestic and EU & foreign policy implications of the 🇨🇿 elections.
Key takeaway & video in THREAD
@gmfus.bsky.social
@authlibeu.bsky.social
@engagingce.bsky.social

Andrej Babis Likely to Return as Czech Prime Minister After Parliamentary Win The party of Andrej Babis, a billionaire and a skeptic of military support to Ukraine, prevailed in parliamentary elections by focusing on the economy.

"Mr. Babis’s return to power would reflect an increasing polarization of voters who seesaw between illiberal populists and pro-Western democratic values, especially in Eastern Europe."

GMF Expert @danielhegedus.bsky.social featured in the New York Times:

Bohemia Illiberalis? Perspectives on Czechia’s Future Democratic Landscape and Foreign Policy After the Elections Where is Czechia headed after the 2025 parliamentary election? Join our discussion on October 6 (Monday) at 3:00 p.m. CET.

‼️ TODAY‼️

💭 What's ahead for Czechia after the parliamentary election?

📅 Oct 6, 3:00pm CET
📍 Online

🗣️
@petraguasti.bsky.social @charlesuni.cuni.cz
@danielhegedus.bsky.social @gmfus.bsky.social
Vit Dostal (AMO)
Andrea Michalcová (Centre for an Informed Society)

The Drone Wall September has witnessed a profound rise in the intensity of Kremlin hybrid warfare against EU and NATO member states, setting off alarm bells with European leaders and among their publics. Moscow is…

🇺🇦 "[Measures like the drone wall] although necessary, divert financial and military resources away from Ukraine, which remains the most efficient use of resources for containing and deterring Russia," writes @danielhegedus.bsky.social. www.gmfus.org/news/drone-w...

@gmfus.bsky.social
@engagingce.bsky.social
@authlibeu.bsky.social
@amo.cz

Bohemia Illiberalis? Perspectives on Czechia’s Future Democratic Landscape and Foreign Policy After the Elections Where is Czechia headed after the 2025 parliamentary election? Join our discussion on October 6 (Monday) at 3:00 p.m. CET.

Bohemia Illiberalis?🇨🇿
Join us for a post-election briefing with the great @petraguasti.bsky.social, Andrea Michalcová & Vit Dostál and discuss the democracy & foreign policy related implications of the 🇨🇿 election results.
📅October 6, 3:00 pm CET / 9:00 am EDT
RSVP 👉 www.authlib.eu/event-bohemi...

The Drone Wall

The #DroneWall might be necessary to maintain societal resilience but is not a strategic answer to 🇷🇺's hybrid warfare.
Instead of responding to tactical moves, Europe should address the Kremlin's strategy.
Check out my latest policy brief 🖊️ for @gmfus.bsky.social 👉 www.gmfus.org/news/drone-w...

The Drone Wall September has witnessed a profound rise in the intensity of Kremlin hybrid warfare against EU and NATO member states, setting off alarm bells with European leaders and among their publics. Moscow is…

Measures like the proposed "drone wall" are "not strategic responses to Russian hybrid warfare, particularly because they do not counter it. Rather, they fulfill the underlying logic of the Russian strategy," argues GMF's @danielhegedus.bsky.social in a new analysis.

Read now:

"I hate that European security depends on the toilette breaks of Viktor Orbán."
The best bon mot I have heard for a while. Thank you, @tobiascremer.bsky.social!
IEPCon2025

Anti-Foreign NGO Laws: A Tool to Repress Civil Society Transatlantic Trusts Central Europe Regional Director Daniel Hegedüs appeared before the US House of Representatives’ Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission to give testimony for a hearing on laws outside...

How do anti-NGO laws impact human rights & democracy in Central Europe?
Check out my written testimony to the
@tlhumanrights.bsky.social on the topic, now published by
@gmfus.bsky.social @engagingce.bsky.social @authlibeu.bsky.social
👉 gmfus.org/news/anti-fo...

Thank you, Erika — you have always been such a wonderful source of inspiration for me! I truly appreciate your kind words, and I am deeply grateful for your friendship!