Laurent Pech | Lightnews

John Morijn @jmorijn.bsky.social · 10h

I gave a talk about Case C-769/22 (Commission v. Hungary), the most awaited pending case before the @eucourtofjustice.bsky.social

For the first time, the Commission invoked Article 2 TEU "separately". But what could that add?

You can watch the full recording here: www.linkedin.com/posts/john-m...

This week I have the very distinct pleasure of visiting Unitelma Sapienza as a guest of ReCLEI (Giulio Fedele, Marco Fisicaro). In that context I was fortunate to give a talk about perhaps the most… ...

This week I have the very distinct pleasure of visiting Unitelma Sapienza as a guest of ReCLEI (Giulio Fedele, Marco Fisicaro). In that context I was fortunate to give a talk about perhaps the most a...

www.linkedin.com

dag @davidallengreen.bsky.social · 12h

“Also for legal reasons, we’re not able to tell you what that line is.”

From a media law perspective: BS.

There is no "legal" reason for not publishing that line.

www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...

BBC tells staff they cannot quote Trump line removed from Reith Lecture

Journalists not allowed to repeat Rutger Bregman’s corruption claims against US president in coverage of edit

www.theguardian.com

Laurent Pech 🇺🇦 @profpech.bsky.social · 15h

For some reasons, @eppgroup.bsky.social has decided to emulate Orban’s autocratic playbook and target civil society actors. This comes at a time where EPP AFCO Chair previously did his best to normalise fake judges and anti-rule of law pseudo “experts”

Transparency International EU @transparency-eu.bsky.social · 15h

Last week, we called on the progressive groups in the European Parliament to boycott the working group set up by the @eppgroup.bsky.social that will scrutinise, stigmatise and ultimately harm civil society actors.

Last night, they did.

Read our boycott letter: buff.ly/o1wqpnx

Transparency International EU @transparency-eu.bsky.social · 15h

Last week, we called on the progressive groups in the European Parliament to boycott the working group set up by the @eppgroup.bsky.social that will scrutinise, stigmatise and ultimately harm civil society actors.

Last night, they did.

Read our boycott letter: buff.ly/o1wqpnx

Dave Keating @davekeating.substack.com · 15h

The EU's ethics watchdog just ruled that 🇪🇺President von der Leyen's use of 'omnibus' packages to implement 🇺🇸President Trump's EU policy wishlist violates fundamental principles of good administration, including transparent, inclusive, and evidence-based law making.

Ombudsman finds maladministration in how Commission prepared urgent legislative proposals

The proposals concerned corporate sustainability due diligence (Omnibus I), the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and countering migrant smuggling.

www.ombudsman.europa.eu

European Ombudsman @ombudsman.europa.eu · 16h

We have found a number of procedural shortcomings in how @ec.europa.eu prepared legislative proposals that it considered urgent.

The proposals concerned:
☑️ Corporate sustainability (Omnibus I)
☑️ Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
☑️ Countering migrant smuggling

www.ombudsman.europa.eu/press-releas...

Kim Lane Scheppele @kimlanelaw.bsky.social · 1d

On this Thanksgiving Eve, here's a good reminder of all of the resistance we've seen this year. A time to give thanks to all those who are rising up to defend American democracy and our constitutional values. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

A year on from Trump’s victory, resistance is everywhere | Rebecca Solnit

Americans have shown a tremendous amount and variety of opposition – more than some may realize

www.theguardian.com

Captain Mark Kelly @captmarkkelly.bsky.social · 1d

The President doesn't want you standing up and speaking out against him, so he's coming after me to intimidate all of us.

But I won't back down — and neither should you.

Laurent Pech 🇺🇦 @profpech.bsky.social · 1d

😬 I had missed this PR. Merci. Does beggar belief Commission is letting HU judges put themselves at serious risk by forcing them to ask ECJ to deal with persistent/systemic violation of Art 267.

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 1d

No Comment Necessary

Laurent Pech 🇺🇦 @profpech.bsky.social · 1d

Yes (Case C-564/19) but Comm didn't follow up with infringement action when the preliminary ruling was disregarded in multiple ways... See excerpts from two studies from the @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social from Oct 2023 and Nov 2025

Laurent Pech 🇺🇦 @profpech.bsky.social · 1d

How US Democracy Dies... Meanwhile, in Brazil...

www.reuters.com/world/americ...

Laurent Pech 🇺🇦 @profpech.bsky.social · 1d

Shockingly, VDL Comm has also been letting Orban violating in systemic manner one of key EU judicial remedies (Art 267 TFEU aka CJEU preliminary ruling jurisdiction) for a considerable time without any consequences because it would show unlocking of 10.2bn in Dec 2023 was done under false pretences

Laurent Pech 🇺🇦 @profpech.bsky.social · 1d

As recalled by EP in resolution yesterday, "Hungary has a legal obligation to comply with all judgments of the CJEU and ECtHR without exception" and "the failure to do so is a grave breach of the rule of law" = Comm must ask ECJ for higher daily fine & (re)freeze EU funds

@tinekestrik.bsky.social

Laurent Pech 🇺🇦 @profpech.bsky.social · 1d

This has to be 1st ever gov-sponsored campaign in history of EU in which an EUMS gov proactively promotes violation of a @eucourtofjustice.bsky.social ruling & non-payment of a daily penalty payment ordered by the CJEU

Time to clawback EU funds & return to the CJEU @michaelmcgratheu.bsky.social

Kim Lane Scheppele @kimlanelaw.bsky.social · 1d

Social science takes time. Here, social scientists analyze a decade of evidence to show that a Supreme Court decision designed to suppress the black vote actually did. SCOTUS may soon obliterate the rest of the Voting Rights Act and we should not be shy about calling out what's going on here.

Kevin Morris @kevintmorris.bsky.social · 4d

As we all wait for Callais to come down, our piece showing that Shelby County increased the racial turnout gap in most of the covered parts of the country has cleared the replication check and is incoming at JOP.

Gutting the VRA was bad, actually.

Szabolcs Panyi @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 1d

💥SCOOP: Hungary’s gov't-funded Wacław Felczak Foundation, set up to strengthen Hungarian-Polish ties, holds its annual gala event today with Polish ex-deputy justice minister Marcin Romanowski as guest of honor—a fugitive MP wanted for 11 financial crimes and sheltered by Orbán.

Very diplomatic.

Jameel Jaffer @jameeljaffer.bsky.social · 1d

The Trump admin will tear down the entire human rights system--and treat the most respected jurists like terrorists--to protect Israel's leaders from accountability for what essentially the whole world recognizes to be terrible crimes. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Molly Quell @mollyquell.bsky.social · 1d

Kafka wants a word.

Laurent Pech 🇺🇦 @profpech.bsky.social · 1d

"Restrictions to primacy of EU law and rights of LGBTIQ+ persons - Information from The Netherlands"

Had to submit an access to documents request & wait a month to get this one-sentence (rule of law/fundamental rights related) document. Tell me again Council's FoI policy is fit for purpose

Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 2d

What competitive authoritarianism looks like

Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 2d

Abuse of power extending beyond Senator Kelly

"FBI has requested interviews with six Democratic U.S. lawmakers."

DOJ official "said the interviews were to determine 'if there's any wrongdoing and then go from there.'"

Note: For video accurately stating military law
www.reuters.com/world/us/fbi...

Laurent Pech 🇺🇦 @profpech.bsky.social · 2d

"Initially described as enabling the Council to have an in-depth exchange or assessment, the Council discreetly downgraded the purpose of hearings to the provision of an up-to-date picture."

A change of phrasing/practice which I think remains largely unnoticed.

cc @tinekestrik.bsky.social

Laurent Pech 🇺🇦 @profpech.bsky.social · 2d

As outlined in my @ceudeminst.bsky.social paper, the Council has proactively sabotaged Art7(1) TEU procedure by applying in practice a new principle of effet inutile aka adopting interpretations of this Treaty provision making it as ineffective as possible
democracyinstitute.ceu.edu/articles/lau...

Laurent Pech 🇺🇦 @profpech.bsky.social · 2d

VG on Art 7(1) hearings: "... nor should such hearings be reduced to a mere boxticking exercise allowing a presidency to discharge its responsibilities by holding a
single formal meeting without pursuing meaningful follow-up; calls on the Council to publish comprehensive minutes after each hearing"

Tineke Strik @tinekestrik.bsky.social · 2d

Yes! A broad majority of the Parliament agrees: the EU must take more action against Orbán!

My report on the rule of law in Hungary was adopted with a majority of 415 votes, urging to take away Orbán's voting rights and to freeze EU funds.

We must stop his breakdown of democracy and human rights.

Kevin Elliott @kjephd.bsky.social · 2d

The movement to destroy liberal democracy is international, and so must be its defense

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 2d

NEWS --> BBC confirms to me that they did edit a line out of historian @rutgerbregman.com's speech. It called Trump "the most openly corrupt president in US history."

BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.

New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...

Trump’s Fury at BBC Gets Unnerving Results with Pro-MAGA Edit Stunner

First, British Broadcasting Corporation execs resigned after Trump complained about a segment. Now the BBC edited out a line from a historian that was critical of Trump. Where does this end?

newrepublic.com

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 2d

NEWS --> BBC confirms to me that they did edit a line out of historian @rutgerbregman.com's speech. It called Trump "the most openly corrupt president in US history."

BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.

New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...

Trump’s Fury at BBC Gets Unnerving Results with Pro-MAGA Edit Stunner

First, British Broadcasting Corporation execs resigned after Trump complained about a segment. Now the BBC edited out a line from a historian that was critical of Trump. Where does this end?

newrepublic.com

Verfassungsblog @verfassungsblog.de · 2d

Israel after the ceasefire:

The cautious optimism is accompanied by a growing unease about the government's next steps.

In her editorial, tamarhostovsky.bsky.social shows how and why the government is escalating attacks on the rule of law.

verfassungsblog.de/israel-after...

“Perhaps the most evident indications of the erosion of the rule of law are the incidents that are taking place ‘on the ground’. Settler violence in the West Bank has escalated significantly, and the military appears to have lost control over it.”

Katalin Halmai @eublogo.bsky.social · 2d

🗳️Again, a 2/3 majority backed the report condemning the Orbán government’s rule-of-law violations in the EP: 415 in favour, 193 against, 28 abstentions. As the abstentions aren’t counted in the tally, the 2/3 majority stands, just as it did 7 years ago with the @judithsargentini.bsky.social report

Tineke Strik @tinekestrik.bsky.social · 2d

Yes! A broad majority of the Parliament agrees: the EU must take more action against Orbán!

My report on the rule of law in Hungary was adopted with a majority of 415 votes, urging to take away Orbán's voting rights and to freeze EU funds.

We must stop his breakdown of democracy and human rights.

Notes from Poland @notesfrompoland.bsky.social · 2d

The EU court has ruled that Poland must recognise the marriage of a Polish same-sex couple who married in Germany, even though Polish law does not allow such marriages.

The ruling requires Poland to change its system for recognising such marriages so as not to discriminate against same-sex couples.

EU court orders Poland to recognise same-sex marriages conducted in other member states

notesfrompoland.com

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