Exclusive: Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy and Slovakia actively pursue regressive policies, watchdog finds
Governments in five EU member states are “consistently and intentionally” eroding the rule of law, Europe’s leading civil liberties group has warned, while democratic standards are deteriorating in six more, including historically strong democracies.
Drawing on evidence from more than 40 NGOs in 22 countries, the Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties) described the governments of Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy and Slovakia as “dismantlers” that were actively weakening the rule of law.
The group’s 2026 report, released on Monday, said the rule of law had regressed in all areas – justice, anti-corruption, media freedom and civil society checks and balances – in Slovakia under the populist, authoritarian, pro-Moscow government of Robert Fico.
Where are you getting 70 year cycles from? This is showing something a bit different:
Source:
https://www.v-dem.net/documents/75/V-Dem_Institute_Democracy_Report_2026_lowres.pdf
We’re in the third reactionary reversal, see you in 40 years when everything is ok again 🫣
Crazy how a world embracing communications / the internet seems to correlate with the increase of autocracy. I remember when in civilisation internet was a progressive science accomplishment.
I think I remember a good SMBC comic that had some commentary about how when we started the internet it seemed like free and open information would build a better world but sadly it hasn’t gone that way. I couldn’t find it though.
This is slightly relevant though:
https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/words-3
I must have seen it written somewhere.
Apologies, details are incorrect but you get my point