Daniel Hegedus
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danielhegedus.bsky.social
Daniel Hegedus
@danielhegedus.bsky.social
International Relations & Democracy. Thinker & Doer.
Regional Director for Central Europe at @gmfus.bsky.social.
Views are personal. Metal & Bluegrass fan.
Pinned
🇭🇺#Hungary’s 2026 #Elections: The Stakes and Challenges
📢Join us for this online panel with Zsófia Banuta, Péter Krekó, Dániel Róna, @veghzsuzsanna.bsky.social & yours truly
📅Nov 26, 3:00 pm CET / 9:00 am EST
RSVP👉 www.gmfus.org/event/hungar...
@gmfus.bsky.social @engagingce.bsky.social
Hungary’s 2026 Elections: The Stakes and Challenges
Hungary’s 2026 parliamentary elections offer the greatest opportunity for a change in the country’s leadership since Prime Minister Viktor Orbán assumed power 16 years ago. His time in office has been...
www.gmfus.org
Reposted by Daniel Hegedus
✍️ In the first op-ed of his new series, @danielhegedus.bsky.social outlines the strategic framework for a reorientation of the foreign policy of a future democratic Hungary, mapping the challenges, trade-offs, and opportunities. 🇭🇺🇭🇺

🧑‍💻 Read it now:
👉 tinyurl.com/cbtcew39
November 25, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Reposted by Daniel Hegedus
Nov 26, 3pm CET, @gmfus.bsky.social webinar

As the Hungarian parliamentary election campaign takes off, Zsófia Banuta, @danielhegedus.bsky.social, Péter Krekó, Dániel Róna & I discuss parties' chances, tactics & necessary steps to improve election integrity

Register: www.gmfus.org/event/hungar...
Hungary’s 2026 Elections: The Stakes and Challenges
Hungary’s 2026 parliamentary elections offer the greatest opportunity for a change in the country’s leadership since Prime Minister Viktor Orbán assumed power 16 years ago. His time in office has been...
www.gmfus.org
November 24, 2025 at 10:22 PM
🇭🇺#Hungary’s 2026 #Elections: The Stakes and Challenges
📢Join us for this online panel with Zsófia Banuta, Péter Krekó, Dániel Róna, @veghzsuzsanna.bsky.social & yours truly
📅Nov 26, 3:00 pm CET / 9:00 am EST
RSVP👉 www.gmfus.org/event/hungar...
@gmfus.bsky.social @engagingce.bsky.social
Hungary’s 2026 Elections: The Stakes and Challenges
Hungary’s 2026 parliamentary elections offer the greatest opportunity for a change in the country’s leadership since Prime Minister Viktor Orbán assumed power 16 years ago. His time in office has been...
www.gmfus.org
November 21, 2025 at 9:22 AM
By tomorrow, @rferl.org.web.brid.gy will cease its 🇭🇺 operations. After returning in 2020 amid Hungary’s deepening autocratization, it is now withdrawing again — another move by the Trump administration shoring up Orbán at a moment of rising domestic pressure, a clear sign of illiberal solidarity.
November 20, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Reposted by Daniel Hegedus
🇺🇸🇭🇺
The balance of the #Trump-#Orbán meeting is more nuanced than the hype around securing sanction exemptions for #Hungary’s oil imports from #Russia.
Check out my piece written for @euobserver.com, summarized in the THREAD below.
euobserver.com/eu-and-the-w...
November 10, 2025 at 3:36 PM
🇺🇸🇭🇺
The balance of the #Trump-#Orbán meeting is more nuanced than the hype around securing sanction exemptions for #Hungary’s oil imports from #Russia.
Check out my piece written for @euobserver.com, summarized in the THREAD below.
euobserver.com/eu-and-the-w...
November 10, 2025 at 3:36 PM
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...
October 24, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Budapest Summit cancelled/on ice.
thehill.com/homenews/adm...
thehill.com
October 21, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Reposted by Daniel Hegedus
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 ...
euobserver.com
October 20, 2025 at 12:21 PM
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 ...
euobserver.com
October 20, 2025 at 12:21 PM
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
October 15, 2025 at 2:11 PM
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.
October 12, 2025 at 11:28 AM
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
October 7, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Reposted by Daniel Hegedus
"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:
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.
www.nytimes.com
October 7, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by Daniel Hegedus
‼️ 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)
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.
www.authlib.eu
October 6, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Reposted by Daniel Hegedus
🇺🇦 "[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...
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…
www.gmfus.org
October 4, 2025 at 5:00 PM
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...
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.
www.authlib.eu
October 1, 2025 at 7:31 AM
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
www.gmfus.org
September 30, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Reposted by Daniel Hegedus
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:
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…
www.gmfus.org
September 29, 2025 at 6:00 PM
"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
September 25, 2025 at 3:48 PM
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...
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...
gmfus.org
September 25, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Reposted by Daniel Hegedus
Excellent testimony & recommendations from @gmfus.bsky.social @danielhegedus.bsky.social at the U.S. Congressional @tlhumanrights.bsky.social hearing on “Laws Regulating Foreign NGOs: Human Rights Implications” — touches on Slovakia, Bulgaria and Hungary.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gu4B...
Laws Regulating Foreign NGOs: Human Rights Implications
YouTube video by Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
www.youtube.com
September 17, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Reposted by Daniel Hegedus
📺 Today at 2:00pm EST / 20 CET, tune into a US Congressional hearing about anti-NGO laws around the world featuring GMF's @danielhegedus.bsky.social, Regional Director, Transatlantic Trusts Central Europe.

For more information and the livestream link:
Laws Regulating Foreign NGOs: Human Rights Implications
Hearing NoticePlease join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a hearing on foreign NGO laws.
humanrightscommission.house.gov
September 9, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Reposted by Daniel Hegedus
Please join our hearing on anti-NGO laws and their human rights implications at the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the United States Congress.
📆September 9, 2:00 pm EDT / 8:00 pm CET
For the live webcast, follow the link below 👇
humanrightscommission.house.gov/events/heari...
Laws Regulating Foreign NGOs: Human Rights Implications
Hearing NoticePlease join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a hearing on foreign NGO laws.
humanrightscommission.house.gov
September 4, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Please join our hearing on anti-NGO laws and their human rights implications at the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the United States Congress.
📆September 9, 2:00 pm EDT / 8:00 pm CET
For the live webcast, follow the link below 👇
humanrightscommission.house.gov/events/heari...
Laws Regulating Foreign NGOs: Human Rights Implications
Hearing NoticePlease join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a hearing on foreign NGO laws.
humanrightscommission.house.gov
September 4, 2025 at 2:39 PM