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Laurent Pech

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by Laurent Pech

profpech.bsky.social
How many hostile acts and crimes will it take for the EU to deal with Orban’s regime?
politico.eu
POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 15h
One of Hungary’s most outspoken critics in Brussels has filed a criminal complaint against PM Viktor Orbán following a failed attempt to hack his email account using spyware in the run-up to parliamentary elections.
MEP targeted by spyware files complaint against Hungary’s Viktor Orbán
“There are indications that the Hungarian secret service is behind the attack,” German MEP Daniel Freund said.
www.politico.eu
6 13

Reposted by Laurent Pech

politico.eu
One of Hungary’s most outspoken critics in Brussels has filed a criminal complaint against PM Viktor Orbán following a failed attempt to hack his email account using spyware in the run-up to parliamentary elections.
MEP targeted by spyware files complaint against Hungary’s Viktor Orbán
“There are indications that the Hungarian secret service is behind the attack,” German MEP Daniel Freund said.
www.politico.eu
1 42 81

by Laurent Pech

profpech.bsky.social
On my way to Brussels to speak at an event dedicated to the EU's rule of law toolbox & potential need for a revamped annual RoL cycle in the form of a new European Rule of Law Semester. My presentation will focus on the evolution of the EU’s rule of law toolbox
www.expert-europe.eu/en/event/tow...
1 6

Reposted by Laurent Pech, Scott A. Imberman

kyledcheney.bsky.social
JUST IN: The 3rd Circuit *denies* a push by national GOP to reconsider ruling on misdated mail ballots in Pa.

Judge Emil Bove may have cast his first vote here in dissent of the decision -- and plans to write about it later. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
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by Laurent Pech — Reposted by Steve Peers

profpech.bsky.social
Must-read post on Orban’s destruction of academic freedom, its institutional, budgetary as well as its collective and individual ramifications. Reminder: This destruction has only been met with minimal EU action and sanctions
verfassungsblog.de
Verfassungsblog @verfassungsblog.de · 1d
What can we learn from Hungary's experience when conceptualising academic freedom?

ANDRÁS L. PAP offers eight lessons as part of our current symposium on Article 13 of the Charter.

verfassungsblog.de/hungary-acad...
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by Laurent Pech

profpech.bsky.social
Outstanding post. Hope it gets widely read.
1

by Laurent Pech

profpech.bsky.social
After Poland’s fake (PiS) judges, the fake US (Trump) attorneys

cc @jakubjaraczewski.bsky.social
5

Reposted by Laurent Pech, Jan W. Mueller, Fabián Muniesa

verfassungsblog.de
What can we learn from Hungary's experience when conceptualising academic freedom?

ANDRÁS L. PAP offers eight lessons as part of our current symposium on Article 13 of the Charter.

verfassungsblog.de/hungary-acad...
2 9 26

Reposted by Laurent Pech, Jim Kelly, Marie-Laure Basilien-Gainche , and 2 more

icon-s.bsky.social
📢The 2026 ICON•S Annual Conference Call for Submissions is out!

Join us in #Dublin from June 29 – July 1, 2026!

Read the 🧵for details ⬇️
1 14 6

by Laurent Pech — Reposted by Dimitry Kochenov, Alberto Alemanno

profpech.bsky.social
Either the EU "enforces the 'beyond doubt' standard of commissioner independence with meaningful consequences — including the unprecedented step of leaving Hungary's commissioner seat vacant — or it tacitly admits that this principle has become a polite fiction that [EUMS] may violate with impunity"
alemanno.bsky.social
Alberto Alemanno @alemanno.bsky.social · 1d
The Várhelyi affair: When an EU member state spies on Brussels - my first oped as contributing columnist for EU Observer #varhelyi #euco

euobserver.com/rule-of-law/...
euobserver.com
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by Laurent Pech

profpech.bsky.social
💪

by Laurent Pech

profpech.bsky.social
Once you accept that SCOTUS is no longer a court but an autocracy enabler whose main objective is to provide a veneer of legality to the Trump regime’s lawlessness, the Roberts 🦘 Court’s behaviour is easier to make sense of
stevevladeck.bsky.social
Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social · 1d
#ICYMI: Yesterday’s “One First” summarized just how weak the defenses of the Supreme Court’s behavior on Trump-related emergency applications have been—and explained what someone would have to do to *actually* defend all that the Court’s majority has been doing:

www.stevevladeck.com/p/183-the-mi...
After all, maybe one can defend the Court granting emergency relief more often than ever before and in cases with far greater real-world (and structural) impacts. And maybe one can defend the Court altering (if not completely scrapping) the traditional balance of the equities in these cases. But does that defense extend to the Court doing so especially in cases in which President Trump is a party-and no others? And does it extend to the Court doing all of this without usually providing written explanations of what it is doing-or why? And even if the answer is somehow "yes," does it also extend to the Court doing all of this, not usually explaining what it's doing or why, and nevertheless accusing lower courts who fail to read the justices' minds of "defying" the Court? I have a very hard time believing that anyone can genuinely make it through even three of those sentences with a coherent defense of what the Supreme Court has done over the past seven months-let alone all five of them. I'd love to see such an argument, if it exists, but I haven't been-and won't be-holding my breath.
2

by Alberto Alemanno — Reposted by Laurent Pech, Alberto Alemanno

alemanno.bsky.social
The Várhelyi affair: When an EU member state spies on Brussels - my first oped as contributing columnist for EU Observer #varhelyi #euco

euobserver.com/rule-of-law/...
euobserver.com
1 6 13

Reposted by Laurent Pech

eucourtofjustice.bsky.social
📺 The broadcasting of today’s hearing in Case C-225/24 Parliament v Commission, on the rule of law conditionality mechanism and protection of the EU budget in relation to Hungary, is now available.

Watch here 👉 curia.europa.eu/jcms/jcms/p1...

#CJEU #EUlaw #RuleOfLaw #EUBudget #Hungary
Streaming - Cour de justice de l'Union européenne
Court of Justice of the European Union
curia.europa.eu
2 4

by Stephen I. Vladeck — Reposted by Laurent Pech, Stephen I. Vladeck

stevevladeck.bsky.social
#ICYMI: Yesterday’s “One First” summarized just how weak the defenses of the Supreme Court’s behavior on Trump-related emergency applications have been—and explained what someone would have to do to *actually* defend all that the Court’s majority has been doing:

www.stevevladeck.com/p/183-the-mi...
After all, maybe one can defend the Court granting emergency relief more often than ever before and in cases with far greater real-world (and structural) impacts. And maybe one can defend the Court altering (if not completely scrapping) the traditional balance of the equities in these cases. But does that defense extend to the Court doing so especially in cases in which President Trump is a party-and no others? And does it extend to the Court doing all of this without usually providing written explanations of what it is doing-or why? And even if the answer is somehow "yes," does it also extend to the Court doing all of this, not usually explaining what it's doing or why, and nevertheless accusing lower courts who fail to read the justices' minds of "defying" the Court? I have a very hard time believing that anyone can genuinely make it through even three of those sentences with a coherent defense of what the Supreme Court has done over the past seven months-let alone all five of them. I'd love to see such an argument, if it exists, but I haven't been-and won't be-holding my breath.
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by Laurent Pech

profpech.bsky.social
“ICE goes masked for a single reason -- to terrorize Americans into quiescence. […] To us, masks are associated with cowardly desperados and the despised Ku Klux Klan. In all our history we have never tolerated an armed masked secret police" (US Federal Judge William Young in AAUP v Rubio)
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 2d
The entire incident is infuriating and terrifying. She’s a Latina woman who was working a service job. On her way home late at night, with her headphones in, she was detained for an hour by masked federal agents who wouldn’t give her their names.
Maria Greeley, 44, had just finished working a double shift at the Beach Bar on Ohio Street earlier this month when she said she was surrounded by three federal agents who grabbed her, forced her hands behind her back and zip tied her. Headphones in, Greeley had been focused on getting home to her two dogs for a walk. Instead, she said she was detained by masked agents who did not answer when she asked for names. They questioned her for an hour, she said.
2 5

by Laurent Pech

profpech.bsky.social
Hungarian Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi was also not aware of himself trying to doctor EU rule of law assessments to please his master's autocratic friends
www.politico.eu/article/oliv...
2

by Laurent Pech

profpech.bsky.social
Speaking of Orbán, hearing in Case C-225/24 Parliament v Comm will take place this morning. The forthcoming judgment will be key in further enabling or on the contrary preventing the undue politicisation of the EU's rule of law toolbox. In this case, VDL Comm unlocked €10.2bn under false pretences
szabolcspanyi.bsky.social
Szabolcs Panyi @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 2d
💥 Viktor Orbán faces a possible ousting in April 2026 — and whether he manages to cling to power or not, his regime and its global allure as a model for autocrats worldwide are crumbling. Read the sharpest analysis available.
The Era of Orbánism as an Exportable Model May Be Ending - VSquare.org
Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán’s once-admired “illiberal model” is faltering — plagued by economic crisis, voter frustration, and collapsing governance. With the 2026 election looming, his future — and the global appeal of his system — is at stake as his government faces its biggest political test.
vsquare.org
2 5

Reposted by Laurent Pech, Nancy Kanwisher, Scott L. Greer

fishkin.bsky.social
We now enter the most dangerous phase, but also the one with the greatest opportunity. The U.S. has thousands of colleges, some run by red state governments, so it's too much to hope that NONE sign up for this federal takeover.

But it matters WHO signs up. The administration is taking a risk.
robertkelchen.com
Robert Kelchen @robertkelchen.com · 2d
After getting zero firm commitments to this point from the first nine invitees, the Trump administration is extending its proposed compact to all colleges. Expect some red-state publics to say yes.
Trump Offers All Colleges Preferential Funding Plan Rejected by MIT
The Trump administration is inviting all US colleges to participate in a compact — initially rejected by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology — that would grant preferential federal funding in re...
www.bloomberg.com
5 29 57

Reposted by Laurent Pech, Anne Applebaum, Nandita Sharma , and 4 more

reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
The entire incident is infuriating and terrifying. She’s a Latina woman who was working a service job. On her way home late at night, with her headphones in, she was detained for an hour by masked federal agents who wouldn’t give her their names.
Maria Greeley, 44, had just finished working a double shift at the Beach Bar on Ohio Street earlier this month when she said she was surrounded by three federal agents who grabbed her, forced her hands behind her back and zip tied her. Headphones in, Greeley had been focused on getting home to her two dogs for a walk. Instead, she said she was detained by masked agents who did not answer when she asked for names. They questioned her for an hour, she said.
200 2.4K 6.1K

Reposted by Laurent Pech, Steve Peers

szabolcspanyi.bsky.social
💥 Viktor Orbán faces a possible ousting in April 2026 — and whether he manages to cling to power or not, his regime and its global allure as a model for autocrats worldwide are crumbling. Read the sharpest analysis available.
The Era of Orbánism as an Exportable Model May Be Ending - VSquare.org
Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán’s once-admired “illiberal model” is faltering — plagued by economic crisis, voter frustration, and collapsing governance. With the 2026 election looming, his future — and the global appeal of his system — is at stake as his government faces its biggest political test.
vsquare.org
4 15 62

by Laurent Pech

profpech.bsky.social
💪

Some EAW litigation could also now seek to rely on ECJ recent confirmation that the “orders” and “judgements” of fake PiS “judges” sitting on courts of last resort must be held null and void. This could also lead to new questions for the ECJ
2

by Laurent Pech

profpech.bsky.social
As some of us argued, it was a mistake to unlock EU funding/close Art 7 primarily on basis of legislative commitments. Broader point: you cannot restore the rule of law post backsliding by adopting a rule of law approach which ignores eg how EU/ECHR legal obligations work but this is no easy task
1 1 3

by Laurent Pech

profpech.bsky.social
This latest scandal also brings to the fore Von der Leyen's lack of judgment; her repeated failure to sanction rogue behaviour and violations of Commission's code of conduct in addition to her contempt for the European Parliament
www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/docume...
cc @alemanno.bsky.social
4 6

by Laurent Pech — Reposted by Ben Tonra

profpech.bsky.social
Varhelyi has repeatedly acted in breach of relevant EU rules with Von der Leyen repeatedly ignoring his rogue behaviour as well as ignoring the European Parliament's request in *2023* to investigate Varhelyi when he was busy doctoring rule of law assessments to please Orban's autocratic buddies...
alemanno.bsky.social
Alberto Alemanno @alemanno.bsky.social · 2d
What can the EU do NOW to address the Varhelyi’s affair:

1. Von der Leyen can compel resignation
2. Refer to CJEU for compulsory retirement (precedent: Cresson case)
3. Leave post UNFILLED until 2029—deny Hungary replacement
1 8 13

by Alberto Alemanno — Reposted by Laurent Pech

alemanno.bsky.social
What can the EU do NOW to address the Varhelyi’s affair:

1. Von der Leyen can compel resignation
2. Refer to CJEU for compulsory retirement (precedent: Cresson case)
3. Leave post UNFILLED until 2029—deny Hungary replacement
1 4 13

Reposted by Laurent Pech, Brendan Nyhan, Steve Peers , and 14 more

atrupar.com
Amy Coney Barrett defends heavy use of the shadow docket: "If we wrote a long opinion, it might give the impression that we have finally resolved the issue, and in none of these cases have we finally resolved the issue."
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Reposted by Laurent Pech

anntelnaes.bsky.social
This is Trump's America

anntelnaes.substack.com/p/shot-in-th...
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Reposted by Laurent Pech, John L. Cotter, David R. Miller , and 1 more

nicholasgrossman.bsky.social
No institutional design can overcome a lawbreaking president, a Congress defending lawbreaking and forfeiting its own power, a Supreme Court that pretends legal text doesn’t count to facilitate lawbreaking, and a citizenry that votes for all that.
Need at least one that wants rule of law. Maybe two.
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by Laurent Pech

profpech.bsky.social
Autocracy in America (HE dimension): "Erwin Chemerinsky, who occupies the normally staid position of dean of the University of California, Berkeley’s law school, referred to it as “extortion, plain and simple""

www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?sto...
HE leaders brand Trump’s compact for HE as ‘extortion’
The Trump administration’s compact offered to nine elite US universities has provoked alarm among higher education leaders. It demands surrender of ...
www.universityworldnews.com
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