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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 22h

8.
but with strong political interest to actively use those services in order to strengthen his/her own political position as minister in the government.

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 22h

7.
4) Last, a takeaway which is not in the interview. The case demonstrate why no government should appoint a minister in controll of a country's foreign intelligence service with zero international experience (and therefore low sensitivity for the protential diplomatic fallout) ...

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 22h

6.
3) The mere fact that the Commission launched an investigation does not mean we will have clarity any time soon. The establishment of investigative task forces can serve to cover up a case just as much as to clarify its circumstances. Time will tell what the Commission’s true intentions are.

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 22h

5.
This is due to the exceptionally aggressive and amateurish approach of Hungarian foreign intelligence operatives, which ultimately led to the exposure of their network.

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 22h

4.
2) It is not unique or exceptional that EU Member States use their nationals working in EU institutions as intelligence sources or assets. What is unique in the current case is that it is being publicly discussed and will be officially investigated by the Commission.

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 22h

3.
There is nothing surprising about the revelation that they use intelligence services to spy on EU institutions, with which they have been in a decade-long legal and political conflict.

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 22h

2.
1) The Hungarian regime has been using active measures to influence the domestic politics of EU Member States for years.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgjY...

Hungarian espionage operation | Daniel Hegedüs

YouTube video by TALKING WITH TVP WORLD

www.youtube.com

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 22h

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.

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 6d

4/4
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oGG...

Bohemia Illiberalis? Perspectives on Czechia’s Future after the Elections

YouTube video by AUTHLIB

www.youtube.com

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 6d

3/4
Instead of isolating Babiš, they should reach out to him early and aim to integrate him into a pro-EU consensus, as they successfully did with Meloni. The preconditions for successful integration are present in his pragmatic, non-ideological, and Western-oriented profile.

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 6d

2/4
If Western actors fear the (re-)emergence of a Central European axis between Babiš, Orbán, and Fico, they should not respond to the Czech election results with reservations, but rather take a proactive approach.
www.authlib.eu/event-video-...

Event Video - Bohemia Illiberalis? Perspectives on Czechia’s Future After the Elections

What will the return of Andrej Babis mean for Czech domestic politics and foreign policy? Our experts discuss in the immediate aftermath of the parliamentary election.

www.authlib.eu

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 6d

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

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Reposted by Daniel Hegedus

German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 6d

"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

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Reposted by Daniel Hegedus

AUTHLIB @authlibeu.bsky.social · 7d

‼️ 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

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Reposted by Daniel Hegedus

German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 8d

🇺🇦 "[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

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 12d

@gmfus.bsky.social
@engagingce.bsky.social
@authlibeu.bsky.social
@amo.cz

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 12d

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

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 13d

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

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Reposted by Daniel Hegedus

German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 13d

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

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 17d

"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

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 18d

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

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Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · 24d

Thank you, Erika — you have always been such a wonderful source of inspiration for me! I truly appreciate your kind words, and I am deeply grateful for your friendship!

Reposted by Daniel Hegedus

Erika Schlager @erikaschlager.bsky.social · 25d

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

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Reposted by Daniel Hegedus

German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · Sep 9

📺 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

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Reposted by Daniel Hegedus

Daniel Hegedus @danielhegedus.bsky.social · Sep 4

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

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