Mert Kartal
@mertkartal.bsky.social
* Associate Prof. of Political Science, St. Lawrence University
* Good Authority Fellow
* Transparency International Consultant
* International organization; the EU; good governance, corruption, populism in Europe, and a bit of Turkey
* 💛💙Fenerbahçe💛💙
* Good Authority Fellow
* Transparency International Consultant
* International organization; the EU; good governance, corruption, populism in Europe, and a bit of Turkey
* 💛💙Fenerbahçe💛💙
Pinned
Mert Kartal
@mertkartal.bsky.social
· Nov 26
I do believe activism is key to progress. But so is scientific research. Pressuring researchers to adopt activist stances risks their work being dismissed as biased, ultimately hurting activists' cause. Let researchers produce objective policy advice and help activists make the world a better place.
Reposted by Mert Kartal
🚨🚨 I am very delighted to peer over my proofs to a new quite comprehensive article analysing the European Public Prosecutor's Office ( #EPPO) to be published in the December issue of #europeanlawreview. 🧵
November 11, 2025 at 8:21 AM
🚨🚨 I am very delighted to peer over my proofs to a new quite comprehensive article analysing the European Public Prosecutor's Office ( #EPPO) to be published in the December issue of #europeanlawreview. 🧵
As expected, PM Fico announced that “ #Slovakia won’t take part in any legal or financial schemes to seize frozen [Russian] assets if those funds would be spent on military costs in #Ukraine.”
Any decision to send EU-level aid to Ukraine requires unanimity.
www.politico.eu/article/slov...
Any decision to send EU-level aid to Ukraine requires unanimity.
www.politico.eu/article/slov...
November 10, 2025 at 3:23 PM
As expected, PM Fico announced that “ #Slovakia won’t take part in any legal or financial schemes to seize frozen [Russian] assets if those funds would be spent on military costs in #Ukraine.”
Any decision to send EU-level aid to Ukraine requires unanimity.
www.politico.eu/article/slov...
Any decision to send EU-level aid to Ukraine requires unanimity.
www.politico.eu/article/slov...
Looks like I was wrong about “exemption from US sanctions”—for now: bbc.com/news/article...
November 8, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Looks like I was wrong about “exemption from US sanctions”—for now: bbc.com/news/article...
Orban asks for an exemption from US sanctions on Russian energy. Trump likely refuses, offers US LNG instead and urges Orban not to block future EU aid for Ukraine. In return, Orban requests Trump’s support ahead of next year’s elections.
New U.S. penalties on Russian energy could be a sticking point as President Trump and Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary meet in Washington on Friday. Here's what to know.
Russian Sanctions Risk Straining Trump’s Chummy Relationship With Hungarian Leader
New U.S. penalties on Russian energy could be a sticking point as President Trump and Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary meet.
nyti.ms
November 7, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Orban asks for an exemption from US sanctions on Russian energy. Trump likely refuses, offers US LNG instead and urges Orban not to block future EU aid for Ukraine. In return, Orban requests Trump’s support ahead of next year’s elections.
Reposted by Mert Kartal
My best guess is that the push on EU membership is really a push on more realistic goals - SAFE cooperation and a revised customs union - that are both, in themselves, hard to achieve but at least in the ballpark of reality.
EU accession is not and the Turks are no dummies.
EU accession is not and the Turks are no dummies.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited Helsinki today, said his country wants a renewed push towards EU membership. At presser with Finnish counterpart Elina Valtonen, both underlined importance of security cooperation (as agreed in a memorandum in June) 👇🏼 www.youtube.com/live/ov8AhOP...
Press Conference: FM Elina Valtonen and FM Hakan Fidan
YouTube video by Suomen ulkoministeriö
www.youtube.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:24 PM
My best guess is that the push on EU membership is really a push on more realistic goals - SAFE cooperation and a revised customs union - that are both, in themselves, hard to achieve but at least in the ballpark of reality.
EU accession is not and the Turks are no dummies.
EU accession is not and the Turks are no dummies.
Germany’s centre-right leader in 🇪🇺 Parliament (EP) is under investigation for alleged misuse of EU funds.
This follows Marine Le Pen’s embezzlement case earlier this year (www.npr.org/2025/03/31/g...) and a 2023 report showing 140 members of EPs misused allowances (www.ftm.eu/articles/eur...)
This follows Marine Le Pen’s embezzlement case earlier this year (www.npr.org/2025/03/31/g...) and a 2023 report showing 140 members of EPs misused allowances (www.ftm.eu/articles/eur...)
November 6, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Germany’s centre-right leader in 🇪🇺 Parliament (EP) is under investigation for alleged misuse of EU funds.
This follows Marine Le Pen’s embezzlement case earlier this year (www.npr.org/2025/03/31/g...) and a 2023 report showing 140 members of EPs misused allowances (www.ftm.eu/articles/eur...)
This follows Marine Le Pen’s embezzlement case earlier this year (www.npr.org/2025/03/31/g...) and a 2023 report showing 140 members of EPs misused allowances (www.ftm.eu/articles/eur...)
The #EU just released its annual review of potential members: tinyurl.com/24u3kxze
Here is a table summarizing where each country stands: #Albania and #Montenegro are the closest to eventual membership. #Georgia, #Serbia, and #Turkiye appear the furthest. The others fall somewhere in between.
Here is a table summarizing where each country stands: #Albania and #Montenegro are the closest to eventual membership. #Georgia, #Serbia, and #Turkiye appear the furthest. The others fall somewhere in between.
November 5, 2025 at 10:44 PM
The #EU just released its annual review of potential members: tinyurl.com/24u3kxze
Here is a table summarizing where each country stands: #Albania and #Montenegro are the closest to eventual membership. #Georgia, #Serbia, and #Turkiye appear the furthest. The others fall somewhere in between.
Here is a table summarizing where each country stands: #Albania and #Montenegro are the closest to eventual membership. #Georgia, #Serbia, and #Turkiye appear the furthest. The others fall somewhere in between.
Reposted by Mert Kartal
“if you want to win the next election focus on the bread and butter issues, repeat what exactly you are for, not against. Build an inclusive ‘we’ and speak to the things that make people’s lives better.”
Not sure on strength of evidence, but I do know voters prefer far-right original over copy!
Not sure on strength of evidence, but I do know voters prefer far-right original over copy!
Any party that wants to win the next election must avoid the far-right trap
Catherine Connolly garnered 914,000 first preference votes, the highest number ever recorded for any presidential candidate in Irish history, by explicitly rejecting far-right narratives throughout th...
www.irishexaminer.com
November 2, 2025 at 2:15 PM
“if you want to win the next election focus on the bread and butter issues, repeat what exactly you are for, not against. Build an inclusive ‘we’ and speak to the things that make people’s lives better.”
Not sure on strength of evidence, but I do know voters prefer far-right original over copy!
Not sure on strength of evidence, but I do know voters prefer far-right original over copy!
AI makes it even harder to know what is real and what is not. And when we cannot agree on basic facts, democracy suffers. Ultimately, we all pay the price.
November 1, 2025 at 6:01 PM
AI makes it even harder to know what is real and what is not. And when we cannot agree on basic facts, democracy suffers. Ultimately, we all pay the price.
I’m not optimistic about Georgia’s EU membership prospects (or those of most other candidate countries). I explained why in this @goodauth.bsky.social article: tinyurl.com/2wjzb5s5
What we are seeing in Georgia now ⬇️ is just the latest sign of more authoritarianism.
What we are seeing in Georgia now ⬇️ is just the latest sign of more authoritarianism.
October 31, 2025 at 5:00 PM
I’m not optimistic about Georgia’s EU membership prospects (or those of most other candidate countries). I explained why in this @goodauth.bsky.social article: tinyurl.com/2wjzb5s5
What we are seeing in Georgia now ⬇️ is just the latest sign of more authoritarianism.
What we are seeing in Georgia now ⬇️ is just the latest sign of more authoritarianism.
As someone who grew up watching Terminator 1 (and, even better, Terminator 2) way too many times, this humanoid thing feels very sketchy.
www.wsj.com/tech/persona...
www.wsj.com/tech/persona...
I Tried the Robot That’s Coming to Live With You. It’s Still Part Human.
1X’s Neo wants to be your housekeeper. First, it needs to be controlled by a human in your home. Cool with you?
www.wsj.com
October 29, 2025 at 12:41 PM
As someone who grew up watching Terminator 1 (and, even better, Terminator 2) way too many times, this humanoid thing feels very sketchy.
www.wsj.com/tech/persona...
www.wsj.com/tech/persona...
🇹🇷 Football Federation just revealed a shocking(!) fact: Of 571 referees, 371 have betting accounts; 152 actively bet: tinyurl.com/ypywjww4
Believing no insider info leaks to staff, clubs, players, associates is naive.
That’s the legal side. The illegal betting is the iceberg’s hidden half.
Believing no insider info leaks to staff, clubs, players, associates is naive.
That’s the legal side. The illegal betting is the iceberg’s hidden half.
Turkey to discipline referees after uncovering mass betting
Turkey's football federation (TFF) will launch disciplinary action against referees found to have bet on football matches after discovering that hundreds of them had betting accounts, its president said on Monday.
www.reuters.com
October 27, 2025 at 2:39 PM
🇹🇷 Football Federation just revealed a shocking(!) fact: Of 571 referees, 371 have betting accounts; 152 actively bet: tinyurl.com/ypywjww4
Believing no insider info leaks to staff, clubs, players, associates is naive.
That’s the legal side. The illegal betting is the iceberg’s hidden half.
Believing no insider info leaks to staff, clubs, players, associates is naive.
That’s the legal side. The illegal betting is the iceberg’s hidden half.
As expected, #EU leaders have postponed the decision on whether to use frozen Russian assets to support #Ukraine. But they agreed to financially support Ukraine via other means: bbc.com/news/article...
In my @goodauth.bsky.social piece below, I explain why seizing these assets is so challenging.
In my @goodauth.bsky.social piece below, I explain why seizing these assets is so challenging.
October 24, 2025 at 5:18 PM
As expected, #EU leaders have postponed the decision on whether to use frozen Russian assets to support #Ukraine. But they agreed to financially support Ukraine via other means: bbc.com/news/article...
In my @goodauth.bsky.social piece below, I explain why seizing these assets is so challenging.
In my @goodauth.bsky.social piece below, I explain why seizing these assets is so challenging.
What a Sunday it’s been so far:
🇮🇱 suspends aid and strikes Gaza after accusing Hamas of violating truce: tinyurl.com/4dt2bsfe
Trump urged 🇺🇦 to accept 🇷🇺’s terms or be destroyed: tinyurl.com/4cbwzebr
Turkish leader says Northern Cyprus should unite with 🇹🇷 following elections:
tinyurl.com/yhm5em6u
🇮🇱 suspends aid and strikes Gaza after accusing Hamas of violating truce: tinyurl.com/4dt2bsfe
Trump urged 🇺🇦 to accept 🇷🇺’s terms or be destroyed: tinyurl.com/4cbwzebr
Turkish leader says Northern Cyprus should unite with 🇹🇷 following elections:
tinyurl.com/yhm5em6u
October 19, 2025 at 6:09 PM
What a Sunday it’s been so far:
🇮🇱 suspends aid and strikes Gaza after accusing Hamas of violating truce: tinyurl.com/4dt2bsfe
Trump urged 🇺🇦 to accept 🇷🇺’s terms or be destroyed: tinyurl.com/4cbwzebr
Turkish leader says Northern Cyprus should unite with 🇹🇷 following elections:
tinyurl.com/yhm5em6u
🇮🇱 suspends aid and strikes Gaza after accusing Hamas of violating truce: tinyurl.com/4dt2bsfe
Trump urged 🇺🇦 to accept 🇷🇺’s terms or be destroyed: tinyurl.com/4cbwzebr
Turkish leader says Northern Cyprus should unite with 🇹🇷 following elections:
tinyurl.com/yhm5em6u
Reposted by Mert Kartal
Breaking news: Donald Trump urged Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept Russia’s terms for ending its war in a volatile White House meeting on Friday, warning that Vladimir Putin had said he would 'destroy' Ukraine if it did not agree on.ft.com/4ou5h1A
October 19, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Breaking news: Donald Trump urged Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept Russia’s terms for ending its war in a volatile White House meeting on Friday, warning that Vladimir Putin had said he would 'destroy' Ukraine if it did not agree on.ft.com/4ou5h1A
Reposted by Mert Kartal
Northern Cypriot Turks have today elected pro-federation candidate Tufan Erhürman for their new president by landslide victory. Erdoğan-backed Ersin Tatar, who promoted two-state solution for the divided island, has lost. Turkey still holds the key to any future talks. www.birgun.net/haber/kuzey-...
Kuzey Kıbrıs'ta 777 sandıktan 735'i açıldı: Tufan Erhürman oyların yüzde 63,28’ini aldı
Cumhurbaşkanı seçimine giden Kuzey Kıbrıs'ta 777 sandıktan 735’i açılırken, CTP Genel Başkanı Tufan Erhürman oyların yüzde 62,80’ini, Cumhurbaşkanı Ersin Tatar oyların yüzde 35,77’sini aldı.
www.birgun.net
October 19, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Northern Cypriot Turks have today elected pro-federation candidate Tufan Erhürman for their new president by landslide victory. Erdoğan-backed Ersin Tatar, who promoted two-state solution for the divided island, has lost. Turkey still holds the key to any future talks. www.birgun.net/haber/kuzey-...
Israel Suspends Aid and Strikes Gaza After Accusing Hamas of Violating Truce: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/w...
October 19, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Israel Suspends Aid and Strikes Gaza After Accusing Hamas of Violating Truce: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/w...
This is a step in the right direction: Helping 🇺🇦 without asking 🇪🇺 voters for more money is tempting. ~$190B would strengthen 🇺🇦's defense (as well as the European defense industry) significantly.
But there are legal/economic/political issues 🇪🇺 must address before using the assets. It will take time.
But there are legal/economic/political issues 🇪🇺 must address before using the assets. It will take time.
🚨🚨 Brussels wants to grab another €25B from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine.
The bloc already has its eyes on €140 billion in Moscow’s frozen assets, but @ec.europa.eu is tempted to take additional funds from private bank accounts.
www.politico.eu/article/brus...
The bloc already has its eyes on €140 billion in Moscow’s frozen assets, but @ec.europa.eu is tempted to take additional funds from private bank accounts.
www.politico.eu/article/brus...
Brussels wants to grab another €25B from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine
The bloc already has its eyes on €140 billion in Moscow’s frozen assets, but the European Commission is tempted to take additional funds from private bank accounts.
www.politico.eu
October 17, 2025 at 3:36 PM
This is a step in the right direction: Helping 🇺🇦 without asking 🇪🇺 voters for more money is tempting. ~$190B would strengthen 🇺🇦's defense (as well as the European defense industry) significantly.
But there are legal/economic/political issues 🇪🇺 must address before using the assets. It will take time.
But there are legal/economic/political issues 🇪🇺 must address before using the assets. It will take time.
Using frozen 🇷🇺 assets could aid 🇺🇦, but seizing them would likely violate international law, which requires asset freezes to be temporary measures.
To help 🇺🇦 without breaking the law, 🇪🇺 is exploring a reparations loan. But it must navigate possible vetoes from 🇭🇺, 🇸🇰, or even 🇨🇿. It will take time!
To help 🇺🇦 without breaking the law, 🇪🇺 is exploring a reparations loan. But it must navigate possible vetoes from 🇭🇺, 🇸🇰, or even 🇨🇿. It will take time!
⚡️ Europe takes a bold step to fund Ukraine using $232 billion in frozen Russian assets.
EU leaders aim to unlock the money by mid-2026 to cover Kyiv’s defense.
EU leaders aim to unlock the money by mid-2026 to cover Kyiv’s defense.
Europe Moves to Use $232 Billion From Frozen Russian Assets to Fund Ukraine
The EU plans to utilize $232 billion in frozen Russian central bank assets to support Ukraine as other funding sources diminish.
united24media.com
October 15, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Using frozen 🇷🇺 assets could aid 🇺🇦, but seizing them would likely violate international law, which requires asset freezes to be temporary measures.
To help 🇺🇦 without breaking the law, 🇪🇺 is exploring a reparations loan. But it must navigate possible vetoes from 🇭🇺, 🇸🇰, or even 🇨🇿. It will take time!
To help 🇺🇦 without breaking the law, 🇪🇺 is exploring a reparations loan. But it must navigate possible vetoes from 🇭🇺, 🇸🇰, or even 🇨🇿. It will take time!
🇫🇷 Conseil d’État has rejected Marine Le Pen’s appeal to halt the enforcement of her penalty for misclassifying National Rally staff as European Parliament assistants. As I explain in my @goodauth.bsky.social piece, this bars her from running in the next presidential election: tinyurl.com/2mseb2ad
October 15, 2025 at 1:49 PM
🇫🇷 Conseil d’État has rejected Marine Le Pen’s appeal to halt the enforcement of her penalty for misclassifying National Rally staff as European Parliament assistants. As I explain in my @goodauth.bsky.social piece, this bars her from running in the next presidential election: tinyurl.com/2mseb2ad
One risk is that any 🇪🇺 member could veto the renewal of sanctions on 🇷🇺 as early as Feb 1. Lifting them after 🇪🇺 has seized Russian assets would cause big legal problems.
🇪🇺 is working to change it so a majority (not unanimity) is needed to renew sanctions. But it will take time. tinyurl.com/5atezk2u
🇪🇺 is working to change it so a majority (not unanimity) is needed to renew sanctions. But it will take time. tinyurl.com/5atezk2u
October 11, 2025 at 1:18 PM
One risk is that any 🇪🇺 member could veto the renewal of sanctions on 🇷🇺 as early as Feb 1. Lifting them after 🇪🇺 has seized Russian assets would cause big legal problems.
🇪🇺 is working to change it so a majority (not unanimity) is needed to renew sanctions. But it will take time. tinyurl.com/5atezk2u
🇪🇺 is working to change it so a majority (not unanimity) is needed to renew sanctions. But it will take time. tinyurl.com/5atezk2u
Hungarian #spies reportedly recruited #EU staff (using bribes). The alleged goal was to steal confidential EU info (e.g., details about anti-fraud probes) and send it to #Hungary.
If true, this is a new low, even for Orban. But the consequences for 🇪🇺 (and #Ukraine and #Russia) might be massive. 1/5
If true, this is a new low, even for Orban. But the consequences for 🇪🇺 (and #Ukraine and #Russia) might be massive. 1/5
Hungary found to have sent agents to spy on EU — report
Hungary found to have sent agents to spy on EU — report – DW – 10/09/2025
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban secretly sent agents to spy on European Union institutions in Brussels for years, according to a report published by a Belgian newspaper.
www.dw.com
October 11, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Reposted by Mert Kartal
🚨🚨 #Denmark aims to ban #socialmedia for children under 15. PM Mette Frederiksen says "We have unleashed a monster" to Danish lawmakers. 🧵https://www.politico.eu/article/denmark-mette-frederiksen-partially-ban-social-media-children-under-15/
Denmark aims to ban social media for children under 15, PM says
“We have unleashed a monster,” Mette Frederiksen tells Danish lawmakers.
www.politico.eu
October 8, 2025 at 7:54 AM
🚨🚨 #Denmark aims to ban #socialmedia for children under 15. PM Mette Frederiksen says "We have unleashed a monster" to Danish lawmakers. 🧵https://www.politico.eu/article/denmark-mette-frederiksen-partially-ban-social-media-children-under-15/
Among the four scenarios BBC outlines for France, the most likely to me is snap elections soon, which the far-right would win. Macron may then rely on their failure to govern France to weaken the far-right's presidential bid in 2027.
bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com/news/article...
Time may be running out for master of clocks Macron: What next for France?
After eight years in office, Emmanuel Macron's position as president is coming under increasing pressure as France's political crisis escalates.
bbc.com
October 8, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Among the four scenarios BBC outlines for France, the most likely to me is snap elections soon, which the far-right would win. Macron may then rely on their failure to govern France to weaken the far-right's presidential bid in 2027.
bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com/news/article...
The traditional 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 alliance that created and has guided 🇪🇺 since then is at stake here.
🇫🇷 under Macron has pressed for a more “strategically autonomous” Europe. If the far-right or the far-left parties in France get what they want, it is a red alarm for 🇪🇺
🇫🇷 under Macron has pressed for a more “strategically autonomous” Europe. If the far-right or the far-left parties in France get what they want, it is a red alarm for 🇪🇺
Absolute shock in France: Lecornu, who was just appointed prime minister by Macron two weeks ago, announced today that he was resigning.
The country was already in unprecedented territory, but this pushes it to another level; odds of new elections shortly just soared.
The country was already in unprecedented territory, but this pushes it to another level; odds of new elections shortly just soared.
October 7, 2025 at 11:40 AM
The traditional 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 alliance that created and has guided 🇪🇺 since then is at stake here.
🇫🇷 under Macron has pressed for a more “strategically autonomous” Europe. If the far-right or the far-left parties in France get what they want, it is a red alarm for 🇪🇺
🇫🇷 under Macron has pressed for a more “strategically autonomous” Europe. If the far-right or the far-left parties in France get what they want, it is a red alarm for 🇪🇺