Exclusive: Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy and Slovakia actively pursue regressive policies, watchdog finds
Governments in five EU member states are “consistently and intentionally” eroding the rule of law, Europe’s leading civil liberties group has warned, while democratic standards are deteriorating in six more, including historically strong democracies.
Drawing on evidence from more than 40 NGOs in 22 countries, the Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties) described the governments of Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy and Slovakia as “dismantlers” that were actively weakening the rule of law.
The group’s 2026 report, released on Monday, said the rule of law had regressed in all areas – justice, anti-corruption, media freedom and civil society checks and balances – in Slovakia under the populist, authoritarian, pro-Moscow government of Robert Fico.
19 Comments
porcoesphino@mander.xyz · 19 pts · 159d
Its a bit more than just an EU thing
Source:
https://www.v-dem.net/documents/75/V-Dem_Institute_Democracy_Report_2026_lowres.pdf
LittleBorat3@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 158d
Putin won all kinds of elections, just not his own in Russia. He had to cheat on his own turf l.
realitista@lemmus.org · 10 pts · 159d
The question is what to do about them? Kick them out of the EU? Diminish their power in the EU? Or just let them sit and fuck things up for everyone else?
Marcomunista@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 10 pts · 159d
Well, looking at the polls, almost every country is at risk; the right is gaining ground everywhere. Today it’s five countries, but tomorrow there could very well be more. I don’t think kicking them out is the best solution (not least because, as an Italian, I’d prefer it if you didn’t leave us to our fate)
realitista@lemmus.org · 2 pts · 158d
Not claiming to have an answer here. It's a tough problem.
LittleBorat3@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 158d
It needs a mechanism to cut funding and restrict access to markets. Solidarity should end once they vote in pro Putin fascists. They can ask their new daddy for money
Corporal_Punishment@feddit.uk · 10 pts · 159d
Populism is on the rise again, like a never ending 70 year cycle.
porcoesphino@mander.xyz · 14 pts · 159d
Where are you getting 70 year cycles from? This is showing something a bit different:
Source:
https://www.v-dem.net/documents/75/V-Dem_Institute_Democracy_Report_2026_lowres.pdf
Corporal_Punishment@feddit.uk · 7 pts · 158d
I must have seen it written somewhere.
Apologies, details are incorrect but you get my point
LittleBorat3@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 158d
We're in the third reactionary reversal, see you in 40 years when everything is ok again 🫣
a4ng3l@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 158d
Crazy how a world embracing communications / the internet seems to correlate with the increase of autocracy. I remember when in civilisation internet was a progressive science accomplishment.
porcoesphino@mander.xyz · 4 pts · 158d
I think I remember a good SMBC comic that had some commentary about how when we started the internet it seemed like free and open information would build a better world but sadly it hasn't gone that way. I couldn't find it though.
This is slightly relevant though:
https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/words-3
dasrael@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 158d
boot them the fuck out. paradox of tolerance!
LittleBorat3@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 158d
They should be put on a list and if they do not fix XYZ in x years they will lose access to the EU and Schengen money etc. All they have is cheap labor and the other countries do not need them, au contraire. They can fix their shit and reapply to join.
toad@sh.itjust.works · -7 pts · 158d
yea because germany supporting a genocide or france's assembly doing a minute of silence for a nazi is so progressive /s
ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net · 11 pts · 158d
This is not about being progressive or not but about respecting the rule of law. No law says that EU has to be progressive.
toad@sh.itjust.works · -5 pts · 158d
Are you stupid? It specifically say "Exclusive: Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy and Slovakia actively pursue REGRESSIVE policies, watchdog finds".
As if the other were the vanguard of ProGrEss
tyler@programming.dev · 2 pts · 157d
Regressive is not the opposite of progressive in this case. It’s the opposite of democratic.
toad@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 157d
Ah yes. When you define words case by case it works