Michael Meyer-Resende
@meyer-resende.bsky.social
Writer and Executive Director, Democracy Reporting International. Lisbon & Berlin.
Consensus is gemütlich. Debate is inspiring.
Consensus is gemütlich. Debate is inspiring.
Immer wieder erstaunlich, wie einerseits Vereine und gemeinnützige Organisationen überreguliert werden (wir wurden von Behörden schon zu unserem Konsum von Toilettenpapier befragt) und in anderen Fällen gar nichts geprüft wird, ob in Berlin oder Brüssel (#Qatar-Gate).
„Arbeitsnachweise über angelaufene oder abgeschlossene Projekte gibt es nicht. Aber immerhin eine Handynummer auf der Webseite. Also ein Anruf dort – mit mäßigem Erfolg. Zwar nimmt jemand ab, legt aber schnell wieder auf.“
Ich war ca. 12 Jahre im Vorstand des Württembergischen Kunstvereins in Stuttgart. Ich weiß genau, wie fucking aufwändig Antragstellungen für Staatsknete (sei es Kommune, Land, Bund o. EU) sind & wie sorgfältig das normalerweise geprüft wird. Das hier ist schlicht Korruption.
taz.de/Gefoerderte-...
taz.de/Gefoerderte-...
November 7, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Immer wieder erstaunlich, wie einerseits Vereine und gemeinnützige Organisationen überreguliert werden (wir wurden von Behörden schon zu unserem Konsum von Toilettenpapier befragt) und in anderen Fällen gar nichts geprüft wird, ob in Berlin oder Brüssel (#Qatar-Gate).
So disinformation online IS a problem? I am confused.
HOSTIN: You don't believe in QAnon anymore? You've changed?
MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE: No, I haven't changed. I was a victim just like you were of media lies and stuff you read on social media
MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE: No, I haven't changed. I was a victim just like you were of media lies and stuff you read on social media
November 5, 2025 at 5:08 PM
So disinformation online IS a problem? I am confused.
Result doesn't support the view that government participation always helps far-right parties (but I am doubtful about such "lessons" whatever they say. Too many variables, too different contexts.)
⚡️Dutch liberal party overtakes far-right nationalists in snap parliamentary election.
The far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), whose leader Geert Wilders has argued against aid to Ukraine, lost nearly a third of its seats in parliament, according to exit polls.
The far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), whose leader Geert Wilders has argued against aid to Ukraine, lost nearly a third of its seats in parliament, according to exit polls.
Dutch liberal party overtakes far-right nationalists in snap parliamentary election
The far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), whose leader has argued against aid to Ukraine, lost nearly a third of its seats in parliament, according to exit polls.
kyivindependent.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Result doesn't support the view that government participation always helps far-right parties (but I am doubtful about such "lessons" whatever they say. Too many variables, too different contexts.)
If you think that "pure majority should rule", you may find out that there isn't one.
Fun fact: You could form a coalition with 12 out of 15 parties that will enter parliament and still not get a majority 🫠
October 29, 2025 at 10:44 PM
If you think that "pure majority should rule", you may find out that there isn't one.
These trends are more interesting than "party A wins". Dutch elections are not a horse race, doesn't matter much if a party "wins or loses" narrowly. What matters is which parties can/want to build a coalition.
Here's how I see the Netherlands election exit poll results in context:
Far-right parties:
Second-best since WWI (after 2023)
Parties to left of D66:
Worst result since WWI
D66 and all to its left:
Third-worst since 1967 (after 2023, 2002)
Parties to left of Labour/GreenLeft:
Worst since 1998
Far-right parties:
Second-best since WWI (after 2023)
Parties to left of D66:
Worst result since WWI
D66 and all to its left:
Third-worst since 1967 (after 2023, 2002)
Parties to left of Labour/GreenLeft:
Worst since 1998
October 29, 2025 at 10:40 PM
These trends are more interesting than "party A wins". Dutch elections are not a horse race, doesn't matter much if a party "wins or loses" narrowly. What matters is which parties can/want to build a coalition.
Good wrap-up of #Portugal's local election. The two main left and right parties dominate the results. The Communist party lost and the far-right party hoped for a lot more support.
portugaldecoded.substack.com
portugaldecoded.substack.com
PORTUGAL DECODED | Substack
English-language roundup of the week's most important stories in Portugal. Enter your email below and select 'None' to subscribe for free. Click to read PORTUGAL DECODED, a Substack publication with t...
portugaldecoded.substack.com
October 13, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Good wrap-up of #Portugal's local election. The two main left and right parties dominate the results. The Communist party lost and the far-right party hoped for a lot more support.
portugaldecoded.substack.com
portugaldecoded.substack.com
The Draghi report makes the US the measure of success. That looks increasingly questionable. The measure of access should be the world-beating economies inside the EU, such as the Netherlands and the Nordics. My opinion in the @euobserver.com
euobserver.com/eu-political...
euobserver.com/eu-political...
The Draghi report is not holy scripture
The problem is that scripture is beyond criticism. The Draghi report should not be. Ten months into the Trump presidency it has not aged well, and the report should be debated, challenged, and improve...
euobserver.com
October 6, 2025 at 8:59 AM
The Draghi report makes the US the measure of success. That looks increasingly questionable. The measure of access should be the world-beating economies inside the EU, such as the Netherlands and the Nordics. My opinion in the @euobserver.com
euobserver.com/eu-political...
euobserver.com/eu-political...
Maybe enough anxiety and handwringing about drone sightings and instead decisions and countermeasures.
October 1, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Maybe enough anxiety and handwringing about drone sightings and instead decisions and countermeasures.
Republican house member requests platform to censor hate speech around Kirk's murder. In the EU hate speech should also be removed if it is illegal.
clayhiggins.house.gov/wp-content/u...
clayhiggins.house.gov/wp-content/u...
clayhiggins.house.gov
September 17, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Republican house member requests platform to censor hate speech around Kirk's murder. In the EU hate speech should also be removed if it is illegal.
clayhiggins.house.gov/wp-content/u...
clayhiggins.house.gov/wp-content/u...
Was rechtswidrig ist, entscheidet am Ende ein Gericht. X verhindert, dass es dazu überhaupt kommt.
X, die Plattform von Elon Musk, missachtet geltendes Recht in Deutschland und Österreich - @arminwolf.at hat das für Österreich in einem Rechtsstreit aufgezeigt
Das passiert auch in Deutschland, wo X einfach eine deutsche Regelung nicht akzeptieren will und als rechtswidrig darstellt
Siehe:
Das passiert auch in Deutschland, wo X einfach eine deutsche Regelung nicht akzeptieren will und als rechtswidrig darstellt
Siehe:
SA-Parole für X kein Problem: Musk will den Ermittlern weiter Daten verweigern
Elon Musks Netzwerk reagiert auf die t-online-Recherchen zu Ermittlungen und legt nach: In einer SA-Parole sieht X kein Problem.
www.t-online.de
September 9, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Was rechtswidrig ist, entscheidet am Ende ein Gericht. X verhindert, dass es dazu überhaupt kommt.
Reposted by Michael Meyer-Resende
Today,
after one of the biggest attacks on Ukraine,
I saw an appalling indifference from the world.
Thank you to those who still care.
There are truly so few of you.
after one of the biggest attacks on Ukraine,
I saw an appalling indifference from the world.
Thank you to those who still care.
There are truly so few of you.
September 7, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Today,
after one of the biggest attacks on Ukraine,
I saw an appalling indifference from the world.
Thank you to those who still care.
There are truly so few of you.
after one of the biggest attacks on Ukraine,
I saw an appalling indifference from the world.
Thank you to those who still care.
There are truly so few of you.
Hochmut und vage Begriffe. Das erfolglose Dauerrezept gegen Rechtsextremismus.
September 6, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Hochmut und vage Begriffe. Das erfolglose Dauerrezept gegen Rechtsextremismus.
Kein guter Tag für Berlin. Hoffentlich feiern wir in Berlin irgendwann mal wieder etwas Zukunftsweisendes.
#Stadtautobahn
#Stadtautobahn
Heute wird in Berlin die teuerste Autobahn Deutschlands eröffnet. 720 Mio.€ hat der 16. Bauabschnitt der A100 gekostet, das sind 225.000 €. pro Meter. Zum Vergleich: Für das gleiche Geld hätte man einfach 49 Jahre den Berliner Radverkehr finanzieren können. Nicht zu glauben...(1/2)
August 27, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Kein guter Tag für Berlin. Hoffentlich feiern wir in Berlin irgendwann mal wieder etwas Zukunftsweisendes.
#Stadtautobahn
#Stadtautobahn
Reposted by Michael Meyer-Resende
🎤Civil society leaders @neusvidal.bsky.social @martapardavi.bsky.social & @meyer-resende.bsky.social
🎤Legal advocate Rachel Cohen
🎤Journalist @candundar.bsky.social
They'll discuss how we can build lasting networks of courage & support in times of democratic decline.
Learn more here: bit.ly/4mGwJIv
🎤Legal advocate Rachel Cohen
🎤Journalist @candundar.bsky.social
They'll discuss how we can build lasting networks of courage & support in times of democratic decline.
Learn more here: bit.ly/4mGwJIv
August 13, 2025 at 8:06 AM
🎤Civil society leaders @neusvidal.bsky.social @martapardavi.bsky.social & @meyer-resende.bsky.social
🎤Legal advocate Rachel Cohen
🎤Journalist @candundar.bsky.social
They'll discuss how we can build lasting networks of courage & support in times of democratic decline.
Learn more here: bit.ly/4mGwJIv
🎤Legal advocate Rachel Cohen
🎤Journalist @candundar.bsky.social
They'll discuss how we can build lasting networks of courage & support in times of democratic decline.
Learn more here: bit.ly/4mGwJIv
Reposted by Michael Meyer-Resende
🇩🇪⚖️My dashing team-mate @ninotsereteli.bsky.social and my boss @meyer-resende.bsky.social for EUobserver on the hot mess that the usually boring process of appointing German Federal Constitutional Court judges has become recently. The age of judicial innocence is over, and messy politics are here.
The German Constitutional Court vote was expected to be another routine display of the country's consensus culture. But then the process was derailed, writes Michael Meyer-Resende.
The lie that worked: CDU panic undermines Germany's top court
The German Constitutional Court vote was expected to be another routine display of the country's consensus culture. But then the process was derailed, writes Michael Meyer-Resende.
euobserver.com
August 12, 2025 at 8:00 AM
🇩🇪⚖️My dashing team-mate @ninotsereteli.bsky.social and my boss @meyer-resende.bsky.social for EUobserver on the hot mess that the usually boring process of appointing German Federal Constitutional Court judges has become recently. The age of judicial innocence is over, and messy politics are here.
Finally. Far too late though.
The German Government will, until further notice, authorise no military equipment exports that can be used in the Gaza Strip.
Full statement by Chancellor Merz 👇
Full statement by Chancellor Merz 👇
August 8, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Finally. Far too late though.
Reposted by Michael Meyer-Resende
🇵🇱⚖️Adam Bodnar is out as the Polish Minister of Justice/Prosecutor General, why? First, being a good academic/human rights defender doesn't necessarily make you a good politician; second, you can't please everyone who wants to be pleased; third, timid people aren't suited for savage times. 1/
July 23, 2025 at 1:27 PM
🇵🇱⚖️Adam Bodnar is out as the Polish Minister of Justice/Prosecutor General, why? First, being a good academic/human rights defender doesn't necessarily make you a good politician; second, you can't please everyone who wants to be pleased; third, timid people aren't suited for savage times. 1/
Ukraine's hastily adopted anti-anti-corruption law is a massive disappointment to its friends. We are in solidarity with our partner organisations that demand a repeal. #Ukraine
July 23, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Ukraine's hastily adopted anti-anti-corruption law is a massive disappointment to its friends. We are in solidarity with our partner organisations that demand a repeal. #Ukraine
This is a big blow to all friends of Ukrainian democracy. It weakens the country's position in the war.
Huge self-inflicted sabotage of Ukraine's path towards EU integration! Whether civil society w EU backing manages to stop this attack on the anticorruption institutions will determine the future strength of EU conditionality and anticorruption efforts. If Zelensky signs the law, it'll signal that..
⚡️ Update: NABU head asks Zelensky to veto bill destroying independence of anti-corruption agencies.
NABU chief Semen Kryvonos warned that the bill recently passed by the parliament threatens Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration efforts.
NABU chief Semen Kryvonos warned that the bill recently passed by the parliament threatens Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration efforts.
July 22, 2025 at 5:18 PM
This is a big blow to all friends of Ukrainian democracy. It weakens the country's position in the war.
Reposted by Michael Meyer-Resende
„Der irrlichternde Umgang mit Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf bietet gleich kumuliertes Anschauungsmaterial, wie Richterwahlen nicht ablaufen sollten.“
KLAUS FERDINAND GÄRDITZ über Parlamentskultur, Diskursfähigkeit und Bundesverfassungsrichterwahl:
verfassungsblog.de/bundesverfas...
KLAUS FERDINAND GÄRDITZ über Parlamentskultur, Diskursfähigkeit und Bundesverfassungsrichterwahl:
verfassungsblog.de/bundesverfas...
July 15, 2025 at 1:06 PM
„Der irrlichternde Umgang mit Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf bietet gleich kumuliertes Anschauungsmaterial, wie Richterwahlen nicht ablaufen sollten.“
KLAUS FERDINAND GÄRDITZ über Parlamentskultur, Diskursfähigkeit und Bundesverfassungsrichterwahl:
verfassungsblog.de/bundesverfas...
KLAUS FERDINAND GÄRDITZ über Parlamentskultur, Diskursfähigkeit und Bundesverfassungsrichterwahl:
verfassungsblog.de/bundesverfas...
Vielleicht auch Stolz. Wie @christianstoecker.de vermerkt, hat Deutschland die Solarrevolution angestoßen (Verweis auf Economist)
July 13, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Vielleicht auch Stolz. Wie @christianstoecker.de vermerkt, hat Deutschland die Solarrevolution angestoßen (Verweis auf Economist)
Reposted by Michael Meyer-Resende
Yes. Important not to fall into the conceptual, normative, and political trap of talking about "illiberal democracy" -- and thereby conceding democracy to aspiring or actual autocrats.
Very good points. Conceptually I am not convinced of the opposition of liberalism and authoritarianism. The opposition should be democracy and authoritarianism, to distinguish system questions from political programmes. (And you may be too generous with AOC, who also called on ignoring courts).
July 10, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Yes. Important not to fall into the conceptual, normative, and political trap of talking about "illiberal democracy" -- and thereby conceding democracy to aspiring or actual autocrats.
Reposted by Michael Meyer-Resende
Trump is working on regime change in Europe
My latest for @euobserver.com
euobserver.com/eu-and-the-w...
My latest for @euobserver.com
euobserver.com/eu-and-the-w...
Trump is working on regime change in Europe — fact, not conspiracy theory
On 27 May, an official document, The Need for Civilizational Allies in Europe, calling for regime change in European countries was published, written by a senior adviser for the Bureau for Democracy, ...
euobserver.com
July 8, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Trump is working on regime change in Europe
My latest for @euobserver.com
euobserver.com/eu-and-the-w...
My latest for @euobserver.com
euobserver.com/eu-and-the-w...
What I love about Portugal"s health system? That regularly doctors tell me I should drink more coffee (and eat ham, cheese and fish).
July 7, 2025 at 3:39 PM
What I love about Portugal"s health system? That regularly doctors tell me I should drink more coffee (and eat ham, cheese and fish).