The closer a country is to Russia, the more likely its people are to see the Kremlin as a top threat to Europe. However, that doesn't mean the EU is viewed as a savior.
That's the takeaway from a new multi-country survey conducted by YouGov in seven EU countries. /1

Checking in from Denmark, where I'll be reporting with my colleagues from the Copenhagen Democracy Summit. Let me know if you're in the area to catch up - and follow @politico.eu for our coverage!

After nine months on the Breaking News desk, I joined @politico.eu’s Defense team this week. Follow us with @laukaya.bsky.social and @jacopobarigazzi.bsky.social for the latest scoops in this booming field!

József Szájer, standing in front of his relic. The ex-MEP was in the limelight for 30 years, but resigned in 2020 due to a lockdown-busting party described as an “orgy”. He escaped the scene through a window – why? He explained to @politico.eu : www.politico.eu/article/lock...

PPF owns through CME several TV stations in Central&Eastern Europe. Recently its Slovakian asset Markíza was the center of political turmoil: the station ousted the head of its news division and fired the host of a political talk show, who talked about the "Orbánisation" of Slovak media. 4/7

Either way, an Orbán-linked owner could tilt TVNs coverage toward a right-wing narrative & beyond the Polish political aspect, fears that such an investor could be pumped with Russian capital have raised national security concerns in Warsaw. Concerns also arose about the potential Czech partner. 3/7

Recently, reports circulated that Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán's associates, accompanied by a Czech partner, would take over Poland's most-watched TV station, TVN, from the debt-ridden Warner Bros. Discovery. Two names were heard: one was József Vida, owner of Hungary's TV2. 1/7

“This implies a completely different kind of political battle in Orbán’s system,” says political analyst Szabolcs Dull. The servant-turned-challenger is calling out the Hungarian prime minister one on one. Read more about it on @politico.eu here: www.politico.eu/article/vikt...

Two things are certain: death and that Fidesz leads in the polls. That was the formula until this year – but the economic crisis and a pardon issued in a high-profile pedophile scandal have eroded the popularity of Viktor Orbán's party. In the discontent, Péter Magyar has exploded like a bomb.

I'm now in Cluj-Napoca/Kolozsvár for the weekend to follow the turmoil of the elections in #Romania as the electorate will vote on the next parliament tomorrow. Keep an eye on @politico.eu for coverage, and if you're here in the unofficial capital of Transylvania, drop me a line!

Now in Budapest, I just sat through the book launch of ex-MEP József Szájer, who was on a panel with Viktor Orbán's wife Anikó Lévai and Mária Schmidt – a cosy talk full of nostalgia about the history of Fidesz, with only a half-sentence reference to the orgy scandal.

In today’s Brussels Playbook: Hungarian university officials say they’re facing a backlash from 🇪🇺 colleagues & their reputation has been seriously damaged as 21 🇭🇺 unis (who got under control of public trusts filled with Fidesz people) are blocked from signing new EU grants.

Hey Bluesky! My name’s Csongor Körömi, I'm a Breaking News Reporter at @politico.eu based in Brussels, but I also make regular trips to Budapest (currently waiting 14 hours for my flight to take off). If you want to grab a ☕️, have a chat, drop me a line here or ckoromi@politico.eu. See you around!