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profpech.bsky.social
Laurent Pech ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ
@profpech.bsky.social
6.2K followers 1.4K following 1.4K posts

Professor of Law, Dean of @ucdschooloflaw.bsky.social, Senior Research Fellow at the CEU Democracy Institute in Budapest, and co-director of @goodlobbyprofs.bsky.social. Usual disclaimers.

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Political science 77%
Law 13%
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profpech.bsky.social
Laurent Pech ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ @profpech.bsky.social ยท 1d
Very instructive as always. Thank you

profpech.bsky.social
Laurent Pech ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ @profpech.bsky.social ยท 1d
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ ๐Ÿฆ˜ (un)constitutional tribunal latestโ€ฆ
jakubjaraczewski.bsky.social Jakub Jaraczewski @jakubjaraczewski.bsky.social ยท 1d
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑโš–๏ธI promised a banger on the rule-of-law crisis in Poland, so... here it is. A group of PiS MPs have lodged a case with the Constitutional Tribunal, asking it to find the rules of electing the judges of the same Tribunal, introduced in 2016 by a PiS majority, to be unconstitutional. 1/

Reposted by Laurent Pech, Holger Hestermeyer, Bartosz Bartkowski

jakubjaraczewski.bsky.social
Jakub Jaraczewski @jakubjaraczewski.bsky.social ยท 1d
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑโš–๏ธI promised a banger on the rule-of-law crisis in Poland, so... here it is. A group of PiS MPs have lodged a case with the Constitutional Tribunal, asking it to find the rules of electing the judges of the same Tribunal, introduced in 2016 by a PiS majority, to be unconstitutional. 1/

profpech.bsky.social
Laurent Pech ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ @profpech.bsky.social ยท 2d
Slovakia should have never left the EUโ€™s list of backsliding countries but instead we have returned to the regular expression of concerns cycle aka all talk no actionโ€ฆ

www.europarl.europa.eu/pdfs/news/ex...
www.europarl.europa.eu

profpech.bsky.social
Laurent Pech ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ @profpech.bsky.social ยท 2d
What a joke. Time to activate rule of law toolbox & freeze eu fund in respect of ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ was months ago but instead @ec.europa.eu and @consilium.europa.eu are happy to look the other way while serving us usual nonsense to hide inaction & bargaining chip approach
democracyinstitute.ceu.edu/articles/lau...

Reposted by Lisa W. Fazio, Laurent Pech, Robert C. Richards , and 1 more

qjurecic.bsky.social
Quinta Jurecic @qjurecic.bsky.social ยท 2d
the statute that Jeanine Pirro reportedly tried to indict congressional Dems under, 18 USC 2387, was originally passed as part of the 1947 Smith Act, a notorious law used to clamp down on free speech during the Red Scare
qjurecic.bsky.social Quinta Jurecic @qjurecic.bsky.social ยท 2d
They tried to prosecute members of Congress under the Smith Act. Absolute scenes

Reposted by Laurent Pech

carlquintanilla.bsky.social
Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social ยท 2d
JUDGE DAVIS: โ€œ.. There has been an undeniable move by the Government in the past month to defy court orders or at least to stretch the legal process to the breaking point in an attempt to deny noncitizens their due process rights.โ€

@politico.com
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...

Reposted by Leigh Sparks, Laurent Pech, Daniel Kuehn , and 1 more

atrupar.com
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com ยท 2d
Goldman to Lyons: "You said in your opening statement that references to ICE as 'the Gestapo' or 'secret police' encourages threats against ICE agents. The problem is you have it backwards. People are simply making valid observations about your tactics, which are un-American and outright fascist."

Reposted by Steve Peers, Laurent Pech

jakubjaraczewski.bsky.social
Jakub Jaraczewski @jakubjaraczewski.bsky.social ยท 2d
๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ Calendar alert: this Thursday will be a Hungarian day at CJEU, with two Advocate General opinions in Hungary-related cases. First up will be the AG ฤ†apeta in a case where the Parliament is going after the Commission over releasing funds for Hungary despite concerns over the judiciary. 1/

Reposted by Cas Mudde, Laurent Pech, Seรกn Hanley

zecsaky.bsky.social
Zselyke Csaky @zecsaky.bsky.social ยท 2d
With Hungaryโ€™s elections only 2 months away, letโ€™s look at what the opposition promises when it comes to the EU, rule of law & Hungaryโ€™s alliances. Media coverage highlighted euro adoption and independence from RU energy by 2035 but there's much more in the program
www.reuters.com/business/hun...
Hungary's opposition Tisza promises wealth tax, euro adoption in election programme
Hungary's opposition Tisza party plans to introduce a wealth tax for the rich, adopt the euro currency and firmly anchor Hungary in the European Union and NATO, its 240-page election programme publish...
www.reuters.com

Reposted by Laurent Pech, Ben Tonra, Michael Jonesโ€Correa , and 2 more

jameeljaffer.bsky.social
Jameel Jaffer @jameeljaffer.bsky.social ยท 2d
"Appeasement is being coordinated while resistance is not" is exactly right. (This op-ed from Arne Duncan and David Pressman is excellent; I hope university leaders will read it.) www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | Universities are sending Trump a dangerous message
Higher education is under attack. Drop the appeasement.
www.washingtonpost.com

profpech.bsky.social
Laurent Pech ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ @profpech.bsky.social ยท 2d
Lawlessness enabled and tolerated by the corrupt and lawless Roberts SCOTUS
kyledcheney.bsky.social Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social ยท 2d
NEW: Federal judges are increasingly furious at what they see as a pattern / playbook of defiance by the Trump administration to court orders in immigration cases โ€” in Minnesota and around the country.

Hereโ€™s a look at what theyโ€™re seeing: www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
How the Trump administration skirts โ€” and defies โ€” court rulings on ICE detentions
A POLITICO review of hundreds of cases brought by ICE detainees shows a pattern of noncompliance that has frustrated judges across the country.
www.politico.com

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Brendan Nyhan, Steve Peers , and 5 more

kyledcheney.bsky.social
Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social ยท 2d
NEW: Federal judges are increasingly furious at what they see as a pattern / playbook of defiance by the Trump administration to court orders in immigration cases โ€” in Minnesota and around the country.

Hereโ€™s a look at what theyโ€™re seeing: www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
How the Trump administration skirts โ€” and defies โ€” court rulings on ICE detentions
A POLITICO review of hundreds of cases brought by ICE detainees shows a pattern of noncompliance that has frustrated judges across the country.
www.politico.com

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Andrew Scott, Colin Murray , and 3 more

stevepeers.bsky.social
Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social ยท 2d
The law on universities and free speech prevents speakers from being *disinvited after they have been invited*. It does not require universities to provide a platform to whoever demands one.

Let's not mince words: the threat to cut funding to every university who disagrees with them is fascist.
ottoenglish.bsky.social Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social ยท 3d
This is pretty menacing.

Sarah Pochin wrote to Bangor's university student run debating society requesting that she attend to "answer questions from students."

When they said "no" Reform rolled all it's tanks onto the lawns and said they'll cut funding to the entire university if they win.
Reform UK threatens to cut funding for Welsh university after debating society bans party from campus want to go to Bangor University' said nobody ever. Especially if Bangor University is stripped of government funding and student loan facilities by @reformparty_uk Is that "in line with your values,' poppets?

Reposted by Laurent Pech

melissakchan.bsky.social
Melissa Chan @melissakchan.bsky.social ยท 2d
A tale of two billionaires. Jeff Bezos was at fashion week in Europe while he pulled a let-them-eat-cake firing of 30% of Washington Post journalists. Jimmy Lai stood by his newsroom and he will now likely die in a Hong Kong prison. Tell everyone you know about Jimmy Lai.

Reposted by Laurent Pech

nvondarza.bsky.social
Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social ยท 3d
Unhelpful mixture of different debates. The question of Ukraine's EU accession will not be solved by using Art. 7 against Hungary.

This kind of pretense, that the other member states could take away Hungary's voting rights and then force through Ukraine accession, plays only into Orban's arguments
politico.eu POLITICO Europe @politico.eu ยท 3d
The EU is hatching an unprecedented plan that could give Ukraine partial membership in the bloc as early as next year.

Based on conversations with 10 officials and diplomats, we have identified five steps that could make it happen ๐Ÿ‘‡
5ย stepsย toย get Ukraineย into the EUย in 2027ย ย 
Plans to bring Kyiv into the tent before it has completed all reforms and to remove Hungaryโ€™s veto signal a sense of urgency in Brussels.
www.politico.eu

profpech.bsky.social
Laurent Pech ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ @profpech.bsky.social ยท 3d
๐Ÿง Article 7(1) procedure was triggered in Sep 2018 by the @europarl.europa.eu but granted, @consilium.europa.eu has proactively sabotaged procedure making it as toothless as possible. EUMS wonโ€™t have spine & numbers to trigger sanctioning branch of Art 7

democracyinstitute.ceu.edu/articles/lau...

profpech.bsky.social
Laurent Pech ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ @profpech.bsky.social ยท 3d
Hungary and Bulgaria at bottom of the list and yet @ec.europa.eu has been busy unlocking eu funding since Dec 2022 and in the case of ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฌ busy doing absolutely nothing but rewarding authorities in face of systemic violations and deteriorating rule of law situation

verfassungsblog.de/bulgaria-chi...

Reposted by Mor Naaman, Laurent Pech

brendannyhan.bsky.social
Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social ยท 3d
Endless legal calvinball making a mockery of the rule of law and the human rights of those being detained
thecity.nyc THE CITY @thecity.nyc ยท 3d
ICE officials under a judgeโ€™s order to clean up squalid conditions on the 10th floor of 26 Federal Plaza detained migrants on a secret floor where they decided that ruling didnโ€™t apply, attorneys for the Trump administration said Monday.

www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/09/2...
ICE Moved Detainees to Previously Undisclosed Floor of 26 Federal Plaza
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to reduce overcrowding and squalid conditions at a Manhattan holding room. Months later, he finds ICE merely shifted floors.
www.thecity.nyc

Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, Mor Naaman, Laurent Pech , and 3 more

thecity.nyc
THE CITY @thecity.nyc ยท 3d
ICE officials under a judgeโ€™s order to clean up squalid conditions on the 10th floor of 26 Federal Plaza detained migrants on a secret floor where they decided that ruling didnโ€™t apply, attorneys for the Trump administration said Monday.

www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/09/2...
ICE Moved Detainees to Previously Undisclosed Floor of 26 Federal Plaza
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to reduce overcrowding and squalid conditions at a Manhattan holding room. Months later, he finds ICE merely shifted floors.
www.thecity.nyc

Reposted by John R. Hutchinson, Scott L. Greer, Amir Attaran , and 11 more

mprnews.org
MPR News @mprnews.org ยท 3d
Super Bowl viewers Sunday speculated that 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos appeared in the halftime show. In fact, he has been in hiding with his family.

โ€œHe canโ€™t sleep well at night. He wakes up three or four times a night screaming, โ€˜Daddy, Daddy,โ€™โ€ Liam's father Adrian Conejo Arias, said.
โ€˜Heโ€™s not the sameโ€™: Father of Liam Conejo Ramos says 5-year-old continues to suffer
Some people thought they say the 5-year-old during the Super Bowl halftime show. But Liam is still in hiding with his family, after he and his father were detained and then released from a Texas deten...
www.mprnews.org

Reposted by Laurent Pech

charlottegarden.bsky.social
Charlotte Garden @charlottegarden.bsky.social ยท 3d
Very much appreciate this statement by Seton Hall law profs, condemning (still ongoing) federal lawlessness in Minnesota: www.nj.com/news/2026/02...
More than 30 legal scholars in N.J. condemn federal civil rights violations
In rare collective statement, 35 faculty members document First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendment breaches, calling attacks on protesters and warrantless raids 'hallmarks of authoritarianism'
www.nj.com

Reposted by Laurent Pech

tinekestrik.bsky.social
Tineke Strik @tinekestrik.bsky.social ยท 3d
After the charges against Gergely Karacsony for having organised the Budapest Pride, now Gรฉza Buzรกs-Hรกbel is charged for having organised the Pรฉcs Pride. He even risks one year imprisonment. Orbรกnโ€™s crack down on citizensโ€™ rights is reaching a new low every day.

helsinki.hu/en/where-ass...
Where assembly is a crime: charges brought against the organizer of Pรฉcs Pride
The prosecutorโ€™s office has turned to the Pรฉcs District Court for violation of the freedom of association and assembly, which could impose up to one year of imprisonment.
helsinki.hu

Reposted by Ben H. Ansell, Tom Clark, Robert Black , and 9 more

mford.bsky.social
Matt Ford @mford.bsky.social ยท 6d
Every time I re-read Trump v. United States, it feels like getting hit in the head with a mallet.
The dissentsโ€™ positions in the end boil down to ignoring the Constitutionโ€™s separation of powers and the Courtโ€™s precedent and instead fear mongering on the basis of ex- treme hypotheticals about a future where the President โ€œfeels empowered to violate federal criminal law.โ€ Post, at 18 (opinion of SOTOMAYOR, J.); see post, at 26, 29โ€“30; post, at 8โ€“9, 10, 12, 16, 20โ€“21 (opinion of JACKSON, J.).

Reposted by Steve Peers, Rosemary A. Joyce, Joseph Schafer , and 2 more

chrisgeidner.bsky.social
Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social ยท 6d
So, first of all, of course it was Trump.

But even if they were telling the truth, "We give staffers who post videos of the Obamas as apes access to the agenda-setting, decree-sending, market-moving account of the president of the United States" is not the exculpatory statement they think it is.

Reposted by Laurent Pech

jenrubin.bsky.social
Jen Rubin @jenrubin.bsky.social ยท 6d
WaPo has nothing on front page online on racist video. They are enablers.

Reposted by Laurent Pech, Scott A. Imberman

donmoyn.bsky.social
Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social ยท 6d
We all shit on the Times about headlines, but this is top of the home page and is admirably clear.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/u...
Trump Posts Video Portraying Obamas as Apes
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Laurent Pech

blakeprof.bsky.social
Blake Emerson @blakeprof.bsky.social ยท 6d
Youโ€™ve got to see the video and the โ€œimmigration enforcementโ€ as one picture: gutter racism, running the government, symbolically and practically.

Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, Jamie Morgan, Laurent Pech , and 1 more

victorerikray.bsky.social
Victor Ray @victorerikray.bsky.social ยท 6d
Those are the hardest working scare quotes in the business.

What is the goddamn bar for calling something racist without qualification if monkey videos donโ€™t make the cut?
carlquintanilla.bsky.social Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social ยท 6d
โ€œ.. while the song โ€˜The Lions Sleeps Tonightโ€™ plays in the background.โ€

@lbc.co.uk
www.lbc.co.uk/article/trum...

profpech.bsky.social
Laurent Pech ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ @profpech.bsky.social ยท 7d
Acc to my own records, this is the 15th ruling on the merits re Poland's rule of law "deforms" finding against Poland consecutively since the ECtHR issued its first rule of law crisis related ruling in Xero Flor in May 2021.