Polish press: The Kremlin is looking for Orbán’s successor
Moscow must also rethink its regional position after Fidesz’s defeat. Russia has lost its most stable ally in the region, while still needing partner(s) within the EU.
V4 & Romania
A collection of 193 posts
Markets cheer, agencies warn: Hungary’s new government faces a sobering economic welcome
Tisza’s landslide victory on April 12 sent the forint to a four-year high and Budapest stocks to a record, as investors priced in the end of the Orbán-era risk premium and the prospect of unlocking frozen EU funds.
Hungarian government change - Regional reactions
The Hungarian election results generated significant reverberations across the region. The reactions simultaneously reflected a sense of geopolitical realignment and each country's own domestic political considerations.
Election sprint in Hungary: 16 years of Fidesz rule under review
Opinion polls are divergent, but results from government-independent research institutes suggest the possible defeat of the Orbán government in Hungary.
Fuel price cap introduced in Poland
Poland has also been hit by the fuel price shock, to which the government has responded with a price cap. Most countries in the region are attempting to ease the burden on consumers through direct state intervention in pricing.
What Druzhba broke: competitiveness and Europe's energy dilemma
A Russian drone strike on Ukraine's Druzhba pipeline in January 2026 has triggered a diplomatic crisis between Kyiv, Budapest and Bratislava - but the real damage runs deeper. The dispute has forced into the open a question: whether the EU can remain industrially competitive while paying two to
Presidential veto in Poland – losing the EU defence loan?
A serious domestic political conflict has emerged in Poland after the head of state, Karol Nawrocki, refused to sign a law that would have enabled the country to join the European Union’s joint defence loan programme. The decision is not only a turning point in a specific economic policy
Oil crisis: Are the Poles getting off light?
In Poland there are no signs of fuel panic or dramatic price hikes. The key to this apparent mystery lies in successful diversification.
Hungary and Ukraine: How a broken pipeline became the centrepiece of an election campaign
With Hungary's parliamentary elections set for 12 April 2026, the relationship between Budapest and Kyiv has deteriorated into one of the most explosive bilateral disputes in Europe.
Romanian agriculture: Self-sufficient small farms, growing large holdings, and looming climate risks
An overview of Romania’s agricultural sector - one of the more significant in the EU, both in terms of economic contribution and employment.
Czech parliament shields Babiš from prosecution in long-running EU subsidy fraud case
Czech lawmakers have voted to shield Prime Minister Andrej Babiš from criminal prosecution in a decade-old EU subsidy fraud case.
From the Gulf to Central Europe: a distant conflict with close-to-home consequences
The Strait of Hormuz is thousands of miles from Budapest or Prague. Yet the crisis unfolding there is already hitting Central European drivers at the pump.
Druzhba pipeline shutdown plunges Hungary and Slovakia into oil dispute with Ukraine
Oil still halted a month after a Druzhba pipeline strike, with Hungary and Slovakia blaming Ukraine for stalling repairs in a deepening row.
Czech agriculture: angry farmers, rising oligarchs
To understand Czech agricultural policy, one must simultaneously examine economic factors, EU policies, and public-life conflicts centered around Andrej Babiš.
Government crisis in Poland?
One of Poland’s governing parties is splitting – but why, and what could this mean for the government?