Fidesz party

Political Chaos Leaves Poles in the Dark

Polish Election Antics Show 'Collapse of Democracy'

Pandemic Boosts Support for Europe's Autocrats

Yet even before a sleeper is laid, the Hungarian government has thrown a cloak of secrecy over the project, raising serious questions about transparency and accountability.

On April 8, the government submitted a draft bill to classify details of the Budapest-Belgrade railway plan, ostensibly to protect national interests. 

Live: Coronavirus Updates

Hungarian Coronavirus Bill Will Have 'Chilling Effect' on Media

Orban Using Coronavirus Crisis to Cement Power, Critics Say

Europe's Other Coronavirus Victim: Information and Data Rights

Rights groups warn that legislation submitted to the Hungarian parliament, giving the government of Viktor Orban unprecedented power of decree in the fight against COVID-19, would have a "chilling effect" on independent media in the country.

Call it the "subsidy paradox": EU cash meant to encourage development ends up misused by populist governments whose very existence undermines the bloc's cherished values. Worse, it gives them stamina and strength.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban says he is seeking allies for a conservative "counter-revolution" in Europe, DPA reported.

Orban gave a speech at a forum of conservatives and nationalists in Rome. He said he had spoken with Spanish far-right opposition leader Santiago Abascal and other supporters from Italy and France.

A century since the Treaty of Trianon dramatically shrank the size of the Hungarian state and stranded millions of Hungarians beyond its borders, Orban is pouring money into ethnic Hungarian communities in neighbouring states, issuing passports and picking up voters and political leverage for the ruling Fidesz party.

In the best traditions of Magyar Szó, Pressburger says he was promised total editorial independence. But the promise meant little.

"VMSZ tried to influence what we write about," Pressburger told BIRN. "First, they wanted to convince me not to be critical and to write more about VMSZ and less about the other parties."

UNDATED

Croatia is due to hold a general election at some point in 2020, possibly in late autumn.

The European Commission and European Parliament will establish the so-called Conference on the Future of Europe, a political body aimed at engaging EU citizens to reform democracy in 2020-2022. It is expected to be up and running in the second half of the year.

JANUARY

But analysts say "Trianon Syndrome" is also useful for nationalist-populists keen to portray themselves as protectors of the nation. And few do that better than the ruling Fidesz party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.