Dániel G. Szabó
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gszd.bsky.social
Dániel G. Szabó
@gszd.bsky.social
Former research Officer at @democracyreporting.bsky.social on human rights and the rule of law. Past: Budapest City Hall, @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social, member of the National Election Commission. Usual disclaimers.
CEE vibes
💥🏳️‍🌈Today, Hungarian police summoned Budapest mayor Gergely Karácsony as a suspect in a criminal investigation and took his mugshot—for organizing the banned Budapest Pride march, which drew 200–300K people.

His lawyer Csaba Tordai showed up wearing a Polish "Konstytucja" t-shirt.
August 1, 2025 at 3:14 PM
An infringement ruling in 129 days – How fast can the Court of Justice of the European Union be?
August 1, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Reposted by Dániel G. Szabó
University College Dublin has just been announced as the host of the next round of the world's biggest event in public law! The 2026 @icon-s.bsky.social conference will be hosted in Belfield in July 2026 by the UCD Centre for Constitutional Studies led by Prof Carolan & @ucdschooloflaw.bsky.social
July 31, 2025 at 8:37 AM
A court ruling within days? Examples from the US Supreme Court, and the @eucourtofjustice.bsky.social.
July 31, 2025 at 7:17 AM
🏃‍♂️ A preliminary ruling in 40 days – Have you ever wondered how fast the @eucourtofjustice.bsky.social can be? Here are some numbers.
July 30, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Reposted by Dániel G. Szabó
Postponing the final vote on the bill is not a retreat but merely a tactical delay. Protests by civic actors, media and businesses helped secure this temporary relief. The next months will be crucial to safeguard freedom of expression, association and assembly. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Hungary postpones vote on law to curb foreign-funded organisations
Orbán’s ruling party delays vote on legislation allowing government to ban organisations with foreign funding
www.theguardian.com
June 5, 2025 at 11:31 AM
At the ICON-S CEE conference at Eötvös Loránd University, I argued for the @eucourtofjustice.bsky.social to strengthen its supervision of @europarl.europa.eu elections.

Why?
May 30, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Reposted by Dániel G. Szabó
We joined @liberties.eu's open letter to @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu, warning of the severe and existential threat to democratic principles, human rights and the rule of law in Hungary and in the EU as a whole. Already 320+ orgs from all over Europe have joined the call on the Commission to act fast.
Join 320+ orgs to send a strong message to President von der Leyen: we re-opened the letter for CSOs ahead the Council meeting next Tuesday. ⤵️

"This new bill represents a severe and existential threat to democratic principles, human rights and the rule of law in Hungary and in the EU as a whole."
​Open Letter On The Hungarian Bill Entitles “Transparency Of Public Life"
Open Letter ​On The Hungarian Bill Entitles “Transparency Of Public Life" (Re-opened for organisational signatures - see details below)
www.liberties.eu
May 23, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Reposted by Dániel G. Szabó
Some Fidesz MPs have already hinted which media outlets could be subject to the so-called transparency law, which at the end could lead to their closure. If the Orbán government dares to use this instrument, the independent media will have to show unprecedented solidarity with those under attack ✊
May 20, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Reposted by Dániel G. Szabó
Here is our own, unofficial translation of the Starve & Strangle bill: helsinki.hu/en/wp-conten...
May 16, 2025 at 1:52 PM
@hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social calls on the the @ec.europa.eu to seek interim measure against new Hungarian law targeting civil society, media and others.
May 15, 2025 at 6:06 PM
🇭🇺 🇪🇺 Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony asks Commission President @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu to request an interim measure against a new legislative proposal that targets media, civil society, and others.
May 15, 2025 at 9:08 AM
@politico.eu: "The bill says threats to national sovereignty include influencing public opinion, promoting democratic debate, or challenging state-defined values like Christian culture and traditional family roles."
Orbán’s Fidesz party proposes Russia-style crackdown on Hungary’s civil society
The new bill fits into a pattern of democratic backsliding for the Central European country.
www.politico.eu
May 14, 2025 at 10:19 AM
🇭🇺 A new Hungarian legislative proposal threatens to severely hinder the operation of rights protection organisations and the media. telex.hu/english/2025...
Russian-style law targeting independent press and NGOs tabled in Hungarian parliament
Fidesz has submitted a proposal that would completely incapacitate organizations they have labeled as foreign agents threatening the country's sovereignty.
telex.hu
May 14, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Reposted by Dániel G. Szabó
‼️A Fidesz bill has been tabled at midnight that would make it extremely difficult for organisations receiving foreign funding to operate and exist in Hungary @telexhu.bsky.social reports.
🧵
May 14, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Reposted by Dániel G. Szabó
🚨🚨Major ruling expected this week from the General Court of @eucourtofjustice.bsky.social on #Pfizergate- a ruling which may have lasting implications for @ec.europa.eu president @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu's legacy. 🧵
www.politico.eu/article/von-...
Von der Leyen faces critical test as EU court decides on secret ‘Pfizergate’ texts
Wednesday’s General Court ruling will assess whether the European Commission is in breach of transparency rules.
www.politico.eu
May 12, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Reposted by Dániel G. Szabó
#Poland ’s #EU Presidency: A breath of fresh air🌬️or a missed opportunity?

⚖️Judicial reforms & rights protection are on the table. But tackling democratic backsliding? Silence.

📺Watch the #RuleofLawWatch ep. 2. Our @jakubjaraczewski.bsky.social explores promises & limits of Poland’s EU leadership:
May 7, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by Dániel G. Szabó
What Can We Learn from the Iberian Power Blackout? (Call for Papers)

The unprecedented power outage that struck mainland Spain and Portugal on April 28, 2025, provides an exceptional case study not only on the state of the energy transition but also on risk regulation lnkd.in/dP2yEqvz
May 6, 2025 at 5:32 PM
🏃‍♀️ Faster courts needed for @europarl.europa.eu elections: Important recommendations for the @ec.europa.eu's Democracy Shield package. 🇪🇺
May 5, 2025 at 2:15 PM
🇭🇺 Today, the Hungarian parliament adopted the law on withdrawing the mandate of members of the European Parliament. This is a concern for the EU as a whole.

Read our blog post on the topic:
Removal of Hungarian MEPs Threatens EU Democracy
A new proposal would let Hungary revoke MEPs’ mandates for false asset declarations. As the EP ensures the EU’s democratic legitimacy, its members’ removal should face EU oversight. The CJEU—not natio...
www.europeanlawblog.eu
April 29, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Reposted by Dániel G. Szabó
🇵🇱⚖️Last Friday, the Polish Ministry of Justice unveiled the eagerly awaited draft bill on reforming the judiciary, meant to address the situation of the so-called "neo judges" and reform the Supreme Court. It's a crucial element of the rule of law restoration package. 1/
April 28, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Reposted by Dániel G. Szabó
🚨🚨 MAJOR NEWS: @ec.europa.eu fines Apple €500M and Meta €200M for breaking the rules of the EU Digital Markets Act, the first fines in the history of the act. 🧵
www.politico.eu/article/eu-f...
EU fines Apple €500M and Meta €200M for breaking Europe’s digital rules
The highly anticipated penalties are the first to be issued under the bloc’s Digital Markets Act.
www.politico.eu
April 23, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Reposted by Dániel G. Szabó
Von der Leyen with some optimism on the state of Europe in a @zeit.de interview today: “We don’t have bros or oligarchs making the rules. We don’t invade our neighbors, and we don’t punish them. […] there are 12 countries on the waiting list to become members of the EU”

www.zeit.de/politik/2025...
April 15, 2025 at 7:54 PM
🇪🇺 Who decides on ousting a Member of the European Parliament?

🇭🇺 A new Hungarian law would allow national authorities to revoke the mandates of elected MEPs. With Beáta Bakó, we argue that an EU-level oversight is necessary.
Removal of Hungarian MEPs Threatens EU Democracy
A new proposal would let Hungary revoke MEPs’ mandates for false asset declarations. As the EP ensures the EU’s democratic legitimacy, its members’ removal should face EU oversight. The CJEU—not natio...
www.europeanlawblog.eu
April 8, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Reposted by Dániel G. Szabó
Leading 🇪🇺 orgs created #Nets4Dem, a network of networks.

We are building resilient democracies, reconnecting with citizens, and forging new pathways for political engagement!

Learn more 👇
Nets4Dem.eu
March 27, 2025 at 11:43 AM