
Romania’s Fragile Successes and the Rise of the Far Right
Romania’s rapid economic development since joining the EU has been overshadowed by rising inequality, institutional neglect, and political discontent, fueling the far right’s dramatic ascent. In the 2024 elections, nationalist rhetoric, a frustrated diaspora, and geopolitical tensions propelled the AUR’s Călin Georgescu to near-victory, exposing the fragility of Romania’s democratic and institutional framework.

In the Shadows of Illiberalism: Slovakia’s Democratic Struggle under Fico’s Resurgence
The new government coalition in Slovakia is wasting no time and is already waging its political and ideological battle on multiple fronts during the first months of its term in office. A high level of mobilization of both civil society and opposition rose against the first law reforms, not leaving the damage to Slovak democratic institutions unnoticed by the international community.