BIRNnewsletter, 13-XII-24

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Democracy Digest: Poland Moves to Protect TV Stations from ‘Hostile Takeovers’

Dec 13, 2024 07:53 am

Elsewhere, Hungarian PM continues his ‘peace mission’ with visits to US and Turkey, and a call with Putin; Slovakia passes law critics call a “whip on doctors”; and Czechs urged to remove all legal obstacles to properly compensate victims of forced sterilisation.

Merz’s Warsaw Visit Indicates German Election Will Bring New Impetus to Polish Ties

Dec 12, 2024 08:49 am

Expectations that Polish-German relations would reach new heights once Donald Tusk’s government came to power never materialised. But a visit to Warsaw this week by Germany’s likely next chancellor is raising hopes again.

Bialowieza Despatch: Poland’s Primeval Forest Enters the Age of Polycrisis

Dec 11, 2024 08:56 am

“Hybrid warfare” brings trash, violence and death to a fragile ecosystem.

Hungary Turns Itself into Hub for Russian Gas

Dec 11, 2024 08:10 am

While maintaining its reliance on Russian gas and oil will bring short-term gains for Hungary’s government, experts warn that over the longer term the political price for defying its Western allies could be far higher.

Sleepless in Novi Sad: How Investors Are Reshaping Serbia’s Second Largest City

Dec 10, 2024 07:59 am

Noise from construction sites has become an inescapable part of the urban environment in Novi Sad. However, the rapid pace of development is erasing the city’s past, making it feel less like home and bringing other unwelcome aspects.

Romania Enters Uncharted Political Waters After Election Debacle

Dec 09, 2024 11:16 am

Romanians are worried about the state of their democracy after allegations of electoral manipulation results in a bombshell court decision to re-run the race for the presidency.

Romania Halts Presidential Election Run-Off Amid Russia Meddling Claims

Dec 06, 2024 03:07 pm

Romania’s Constitutional Court ordered a complete re-run of the presidential elections after the country’s intelligence agency claimed there had been foreign interference on behalf of far-right front-runner Calin Georgescu.

Two Weeks in Central Europe | 6 December 2024

Dec 06, 2024 11:50 am

In this edition, TWiCE talks to Edit Inotai, BIRN's Budapest correspondent, who will discuss Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban embarking on the Italian leg of his so-called ‘peace mission’ this week, when he met with Pope Francis and Giorgia Meloni.