Kieran Williams
@kieranwilliams67.bsky.social
Comparative political scientist. Author of books on the 1968 "Prague Spring", intelligence services, electoral systems, Václav Havel.
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=mDF8dbEAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
https://kdwilliams7.medium.com/
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=mDF8dbEAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
https://kdwilliams7.medium.com/
Reposted by Kieran Williams
Politici nás nemajú ovládať, politici majú ovládať spravovanie vecí verejných. A keď to nevedia, tak nech idú preč, povedala Iveta Radičová na občianskom proteste Mier Ukrajine, ktorý sa začal hneď po bratislavskom opozičnom proteste.
https://dennikn.sk/minuta/4974817/
https://dennikn.sk/minuta/4974817/
Politici nás nemajú ovládať, politici majú ovládať spravovanie vecí verejných. A keď to nevedia, tak nech idú preč, povedala Iveta Radičová
…na občianskom proteste Mier Ukrajine, ktorý sa začal hneď po bratislavskom opozičnom proteste. Expremiérka odmieta, aby sa na ľudí vulgárne vykrikovalo a označovali ich za „supov a hyeny“. Narážala tak na vyjadrenia premiér Roberta Fica, ktorý tak po vlakovej nehode označil kritikov svojej vlády, opozíciu a médiá.
dennikn.sk
November 17, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Politici nás nemajú ovládať, politici majú ovládať spravovanie vecí verejných. A keď to nevedia, tak nech idú preč, povedala Iveta Radičová na občianskom proteste Mier Ukrajine, ktorý sa začal hneď po bratislavskom opozičnom proteste.
https://dennikn.sk/minuta/4974817/
https://dennikn.sk/minuta/4974817/
Reposted by Kieran Williams
„Vytváří se tu dilema, jestli politikovi, který podporuje agresivní Rusko, tyto informace vydávat. Ze zákona to tajné služby dělat nemusí,“ říká k možné volbě Tomia Okamury do čela Sněmovny novinář Ondřej Kundra z týdeníku Respekt. irozhl.as/yok
Kundra: Tajné služby nemusí nutně informovat šéfa Sněmovny. Je otázkou, zda to u Okamury udělají
„Vytváří se tu dilema, jestli politikovi, který podporuje agresivní Rusko, tyto informace vydávat. Ze zákona to služby dělat nemusí,“ přibližuje novinář týdeníku Respekt Ondřej Kundra.
irozhl.as
November 5, 2025 at 2:46 PM
„Vytváří se tu dilema, jestli politikovi, který podporuje agresivní Rusko, tyto informace vydávat. Ze zákona to tajné služby dělat nemusí,“ říká k možné volbě Tomia Okamury do čela Sněmovny novinář Ondřej Kundra z týdeníku Respekt. irozhl.as/yok
For the arrival of November, some thoughts on George Smiley, Horace Rumpole, and flabby liberalism.
kdwilliams7.medium.com/smiley-rumpo...
kdwilliams7.medium.com/smiley-rumpo...
Smiley, Rumpole, and flabby liberalism
Whenever autumn descends, I feel drawn to revisit the characters of George Smiley and Horace Rumpole in some or other medium: the books by…
kdwilliams7.medium.com
November 1, 2025 at 7:10 PM
For the arrival of November, some thoughts on George Smiley, Horace Rumpole, and flabby liberalism.
kdwilliams7.medium.com/smiley-rumpo...
kdwilliams7.medium.com/smiley-rumpo...
Reposted by Kieran Williams
Plaid have won a massive victory in the Caerphilly by-election beating Reform comfortably.
The Labour vote has totally collapsed.
It seems that in Caerphilly more people feared those who oppose immigration than the immigrants themselves.
The Labour vote has totally collapsed.
It seems that in Caerphilly more people feared those who oppose immigration than the immigrants themselves.
October 24, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Plaid have won a massive victory in the Caerphilly by-election beating Reform comfortably.
The Labour vote has totally collapsed.
It seems that in Caerphilly more people feared those who oppose immigration than the immigrants themselves.
The Labour vote has totally collapsed.
It seems that in Caerphilly more people feared those who oppose immigration than the immigrants themselves.
Reposted by Kieran Williams
In the end it was a humiliating defeat for Labour in the South Wales Valleys, where the party lost Caerphilly after dominating UK and Welsh Parliament elections in the area for 100 years. Its vote slumped from 46% to 11% on a record turnout, with—good news!—Plaid easily beating back the Reform surge
October 24, 2025 at 2:55 AM
In the end it was a humiliating defeat for Labour in the South Wales Valleys, where the party lost Caerphilly after dominating UK and Welsh Parliament elections in the area for 100 years. Its vote slumped from 46% to 11% on a record turnout, with—good news!—Plaid easily beating back the Reform surge
Reposted by Kieran Williams
How Mr Babiš's ANO (PfE, ex-RE) traveled from the liberal-right quadrant to the left-conservative one, as captured by @chesdata.bsky.social
With a comparison with fellow Central European social-national peers Mr Orbán's Fidesz (PfE, ex EPP) an Mr Fico's Smer (NI, ex-S&D).
With a comparison with fellow Central European social-national peers Mr Orbán's Fidesz (PfE, ex EPP) an Mr Fico's Smer (NI, ex-S&D).
October 4, 2025 at 5:53 PM
How Mr Babiš's ANO (PfE, ex-RE) traveled from the liberal-right quadrant to the left-conservative one, as captured by @chesdata.bsky.social
With a comparison with fellow Central European social-national peers Mr Orbán's Fidesz (PfE, ex EPP) an Mr Fico's Smer (NI, ex-S&D).
With a comparison with fellow Central European social-national peers Mr Orbán's Fidesz (PfE, ex EPP) an Mr Fico's Smer (NI, ex-S&D).
Reposted by Kieran Williams
The price in votes of a seat in the lower house of the Czech parliament.
October 4, 2025 at 8:46 PM
The price in votes of a seat in the lower house of the Czech parliament.
Reposted by Kieran Williams
Welsh Labour have genuinely posted this video of their Caerphilly candidate Richard Tunnicliffe on social media.
Turn the sound on. 🔊🔊
It had the caption: "Vote for this total diva on Thursday October 23rd."
I have no idea what to say.
Turn the sound on. 🔊🔊
It had the caption: "Vote for this total diva on Thursday October 23rd."
I have no idea what to say.
October 18, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Welsh Labour have genuinely posted this video of their Caerphilly candidate Richard Tunnicliffe on social media.
Turn the sound on. 🔊🔊
It had the caption: "Vote for this total diva on Thursday October 23rd."
I have no idea what to say.
Turn the sound on. 🔊🔊
It had the caption: "Vote for this total diva on Thursday October 23rd."
I have no idea what to say.
Reposted by Kieran Williams
Cameroon elects its president tomorrow. The incumbent, Mr Biya, is running. At 92, he is the current oldest head of state. In office since 1982, also the current longest-serving non-royal head of state. 8 in 10 Cameroonians were born during his time in office.
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October 11, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Cameroon elects its president tomorrow. The incumbent, Mr Biya, is running. At 92, he is the current oldest head of state. In office since 1982, also the current longest-serving non-royal head of state. 8 in 10 Cameroonians were born during his time in office.
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1/2
Reposted by Kieran Williams
With her extraordinary work—in collaboration with her husband, Peter—no one has done more to promote Slovak literature in the anglophone world than @juliasherwood.bsky.social And this latest translation of powerful short stories about the atrocity and violence of the Second World War is a triumph.
On International Translation Day, we are delighted to introduce our collaborator in the Modern Slovak Classics series, the London-based @juliasherwood.bsky.social. She is not only active as a translator but also as a tireless promoter of Slovak and Czech literature abroad.
September 30, 2025 at 8:35 AM
With her extraordinary work—in collaboration with her husband, Peter—no one has done more to promote Slovak literature in the anglophone world than @juliasherwood.bsky.social And this latest translation of powerful short stories about the atrocity and violence of the Second World War is a triumph.
Reposted by Kieran Williams
Latin America remains haunted by the specter of “strongman” rule. Term limits have been a way of guarding against this threat, but aspiring autocrats have now found a new avenue to bypass this barrier to power: courts of law.
muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...
muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...
October 11, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Latin America remains haunted by the specter of “strongman” rule. Term limits have been a way of guarding against this threat, but aspiring autocrats have now found a new avenue to bypass this barrier to power: courts of law.
muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...
muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...
Reposted by Kieran Williams
KOMENTÁŘ 💬 | „Výsledky voleb v letošním roce ale naznačují, že voličstvo Pirátů hledá po letech strávených s muži ve vedení a u moci i něco jiného. Nastala ženská pirátská revoluce,“ píše Apolena Rychlíková pro Český rozhlas Plus. irozhl.as/xNj
Pirátská ženská revoluce
Výsledky voleb v letošním roce ale naznačují, že voličstvo Pirátů hledá po letech strávených s muži ve vedení a u moci i něco jiného. Nastala ženská pirátská revoluce.
irozhl.as
October 8, 2025 at 8:52 AM
KOMENTÁŘ 💬 | „Výsledky voleb v letošním roce ale naznačují, že voličstvo Pirátů hledá po letech strávených s muži ve vedení a u moci i něco jiného. Nastala ženská pirátská revoluce,“ píše Apolena Rychlíková pro Český rozhlas Plus. irozhl.as/xNj
Reposted by Kieran Williams
Fine blog on Czech election. Big win for Babiš as in 2017 pyrrhic.
But am left wondering after cost-of-living dominated campaign, if liberal–illiberal cultural divide so key. And if shapeshifting pragmatist AB really readable in classic left/right,lib/con terms?
blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2...
But am left wondering after cost-of-living dominated campaign, if liberal–illiberal cultural divide so key. And if shapeshifting pragmatist AB really readable in classic left/right,lib/con terms?
blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2...
The 2025 Czech election – Andrej Babiš’s Pyrrhic victory
Andrej Babiš’s ANO won the 2025 Czech election on 3–4 October. Yet as Jan Rovny explains, Babiš will find it challenging to form a stable government.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
October 7, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Fine blog on Czech election. Big win for Babiš as in 2017 pyrrhic.
But am left wondering after cost-of-living dominated campaign, if liberal–illiberal cultural divide so key. And if shapeshifting pragmatist AB really readable in classic left/right,lib/con terms?
blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2...
But am left wondering after cost-of-living dominated campaign, if liberal–illiberal cultural divide so key. And if shapeshifting pragmatist AB really readable in classic left/right,lib/con terms?
blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2...
Reposted by Kieran Williams
Zemřel spisovatel,dramatik a disident Ivan Klíma(94). Napsal přes 20 knih a byly přeloženy do 30 jazyků. Hlavním motivem byly vztahy mezi muži a ženami. Uspěl v 60.letech, za normalizace šel na index. Publikovat mohl až po listopadu 1989. Čest jeho památce! #RIP ct24.ceskatelevize.cz/clanek/domac...
October 4, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Zemřel spisovatel,dramatik a disident Ivan Klíma(94). Napsal přes 20 knih a byly přeloženy do 30 jazyků. Hlavním motivem byly vztahy mezi muži a ženami. Uspěl v 60.letech, za normalizace šel na index. Publikovat mohl až po listopadu 1989. Čest jeho památce! #RIP ct24.ceskatelevize.cz/clanek/domac...
Reposted by Kieran Williams
TLDR: Expect a Babiš-Motorist government with small majority or a strong minority administration reluctantly enabled by opposition parties as the less evil.
October 4, 2025 at 2:26 PM
TLDR: Expect a Babiš-Motorist government with small majority or a strong minority administration reluctantly enabled by opposition parties as the less evil.
Reposted by Kieran Williams
With just under half of electoral precincts in Czechia counted, it looks like Andrej Babis’s ANO movement that won big. Now on 38% of votes counted. Likely to drop has results from big cities come in, but 35%?
October 4, 2025 at 2:08 PM
With just under half of electoral precincts in Czechia counted, it looks like Andrej Babis’s ANO movement that won big. Now on 38% of votes counted. Likely to drop has results from big cities come in, but 35%?
Reposted by Kieran Williams
Over 95% votes now counted. Babis’s ANO wins over a third of the vote. Some form of coalition with ANO at the helm likely.
October 4, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Over 95% votes now counted. Babis’s ANO wins over a third of the vote. Some form of coalition with ANO at the helm likely.
Reposted by Kieran Williams
Czechia, 97,63% polling places counted:
National parliament election
ANO-PfE: 35.08% (+8.0)
SPOLU-ECR|EPP: 22.95% (-4.8)
STAN-EPP: 11% (n.a.)
Piráti-G/EFA: 9% (n.a.)
SPD-ESN: 7.88% (-1.7)
Auto-PfE: 7% (new)
Stačilo!-NI|S&D: 4% (n.a.)
...
+/- vs. 2021 election
➤ europeelects.eu/czechia
National parliament election
ANO-PfE: 35.08% (+8.0)
SPOLU-ECR|EPP: 22.95% (-4.8)
STAN-EPP: 11% (n.a.)
Piráti-G/EFA: 9% (n.a.)
SPD-ESN: 7.88% (-1.7)
Auto-PfE: 7% (new)
Stačilo!-NI|S&D: 4% (n.a.)
...
+/- vs. 2021 election
➤ europeelects.eu/czechia
October 4, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Czechia, 97,63% polling places counted:
National parliament election
ANO-PfE: 35.08% (+8.0)
SPOLU-ECR|EPP: 22.95% (-4.8)
STAN-EPP: 11% (n.a.)
Piráti-G/EFA: 9% (n.a.)
SPD-ESN: 7.88% (-1.7)
Auto-PfE: 7% (new)
Stačilo!-NI|S&D: 4% (n.a.)
...
+/- vs. 2021 election
➤ europeelects.eu/czechia
National parliament election
ANO-PfE: 35.08% (+8.0)
SPOLU-ECR|EPP: 22.95% (-4.8)
STAN-EPP: 11% (n.a.)
Piráti-G/EFA: 9% (n.a.)
SPD-ESN: 7.88% (-1.7)
Auto-PfE: 7% (new)
Stačilo!-NI|S&D: 4% (n.a.)
...
+/- vs. 2021 election
➤ europeelects.eu/czechia
Reposted by Kieran Williams
The September 28 attack on an LDS church in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, was at least the 20th high-profile shooting at a house of worship in the past two decades.
Collectively, these shootings left at least 92 people dead and 100 wounded.
Collectively, these shootings left at least 92 people dead and 100 wounded.
A Timeline of High-Profile Shootings at Houses of Worship
The attack on a Mormon church in Michigan was one of many similar shootings over the past 20 years, according to an analysis by The Trace.
www.thetrace.org
September 29, 2025 at 11:30 PM
The September 28 attack on an LDS church in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, was at least the 20th high-profile shooting at a house of worship in the past two decades.
Collectively, these shootings left at least 92 people dead and 100 wounded.
Collectively, these shootings left at least 92 people dead and 100 wounded.
Reposted by Kieran Williams
Moldovan voters have (yet again!) thwarted Ru’s efforts to intimidate, buy, and manipulate them into abandoning their pro-EU course.
another huge win for Europe tonight!
It is now clear: even with votes still to be counted, Moldova has chosen Europe. Maia Sandu and PAS are heading to a decisive majority.
Bravo the people of Moldova.
It is now clear: even with votes still to be counted, Moldova has chosen Europe. Maia Sandu and PAS are heading to a decisive majority.
Bravo the people of Moldova.
September 29, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Moldovan voters have (yet again!) thwarted Ru’s efforts to intimidate, buy, and manipulate them into abandoning their pro-EU course.
Reposted by Kieran Williams
Political showdown looms over Germany’s top court appointments
Political showdown looms over Germany’s top court appointments
Germany’s political factions are locked in tense negotiations ahead of a crucial vote to fill top court vacancies, with coalition leaders scrambling for opposition support amid lingering fallout from an abortion-related standoff
dlvr.it
September 23, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Political showdown looms over Germany’s top court appointments
Reposted by Kieran Williams
Hungary and Slovakia AWOL from EU’s “drone wall” talks
Hungary and Slovakia AWOL from EU’s “drone wall” talks
Hungary and Slovakia will not participate in the first round of EU discussions on the ...
eualive.net
September 23, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Hungary and Slovakia AWOL from EU’s “drone wall” talks
Reposted by Kieran Williams
In the data on drone and missile strikes by fascist Russia on democratic Ukraine since Trump took office, you can literally see Putin test Trump, gauge the reaction, and then test more - each time raising the intensity of his attacks.
September 21, 2025 at 7:11 PM
In the data on drone and missile strikes by fascist Russia on democratic Ukraine since Trump took office, you can literally see Putin test Trump, gauge the reaction, and then test more - each time raising the intensity of his attacks.
Reposted by Kieran Williams
The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel is a serious threat to free expression – but not because the comedians’ rights were violated.
Just last year a unanimous Supreme Court ruled that the government can’t legally pressure a corporation to suppress speech.
buff.ly/BI13STP
Just last year a unanimous Supreme Court ruled that the government can’t legally pressure a corporation to suppress speech.
buff.ly/BI13STP
Why Jimmy Kimmel’s First Amendment rights weren’t violated – but ABC’s would be protected if it stood up to the FCC and Trump
Think you know what the First Amendment means and protects? You − and a lot of Jimmy Kimmel’s defenders − may well be wrong.
theconversation.com
September 19, 2025 at 9:04 PM
The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel is a serious threat to free expression – but not because the comedians’ rights were violated.
Just last year a unanimous Supreme Court ruled that the government can’t legally pressure a corporation to suppress speech.
buff.ly/BI13STP
Just last year a unanimous Supreme Court ruled that the government can’t legally pressure a corporation to suppress speech.
buff.ly/BI13STP
Reposted by Kieran Williams
ICYMI: The latest IDEA report warns El Salvador faces the fastest democratic erosion in Latin America, with security policies under Bukele raising concerns over freedoms, judicial independence, and long-term institutional damage. Bne IntelliNews
El Salvador leads Latin America's democratic decline, global watchdog warns
The latest IDEA report warns El Salvador faces the fastest democratic erosion in Latin America, with security policies under Bukele raising concerns over freedoms, judicial independence, and long-term institutional damage.
dlvr.it
September 17, 2025 at 2:51 PM
ICYMI: The latest IDEA report warns El Salvador faces the fastest democratic erosion in Latin America, with security policies under Bukele raising concerns over freedoms, judicial independence, and long-term institutional damage. Bne IntelliNews