Tag: Democracy

In the post-Communist Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, democracy has become the only game in town. But how well is it played, and who plays it best? Olga Gyarfasova provides an evaluation.

A law was recently adopted in Ukraine allowing constitutional change by referendum. The law should be carefully welcomed by the EU, argues Bruno Vandecasteele.

The European Commission has named 2013 "European Year of Citizens" to raise awareness about Union citizens' rights in shaping the future of Europe.

Ahead of parliamentary elections, Kostiantyn Yelisieiev urges the European Union to strengthen its economic and political ties with Ukraine.

The Greek elections on Sunday have shown that the European project is finally, despite everything, a reality, writes Joan Marc Simon.

The incompetence and corruption of the political class following the 2004 Orange Revolution has led Ukrainians to be deeply sceptical of democracy. Yet they are also becoming increasingly aware of their own ability to influence the government through protest and direct action, argues Lidiya Smola.

Ukraine today, suffering from economic hardship and imperfect democracy, is reminiscent of Weimar Germany, says Viktor Tkachuk. He argues that instead of falling into dictatorship, the country can champion a new form of democracy through the direct participation of citizens and a leader with no ties to the existing political system.

Vladimir Putin triumphed in Russia's presidential election yesterday (4 March) and, tears rolling down his cheeks, called his victory a turning point that had prevented the country from falling into the hands of enemies. Not many messages of congratulations arrived, however, as opponents complained of widespread fraud.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán failed to convince many MEPs that Hungary was not adrift from European values, following a heated debate yesterday (18 January). However, he mustered considerable support from the European conservatives and centre-right. EurActiv France contributed to this article from Strasbourg.

EU and Ukrainian leaders meeting in Kyiv yesterday (19 December) failed to initial the country's Association Agreement with the Union, largely due to the imprisonment of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko that Brussels sees as "politically motivated".

While protestors in major Russian cities vent frustration over apparent fraud in the recent parliamentary elections, Russia's president is heading to Brussels to meet EU leaders mollified by the unfolding eurozone crisis.

What if there are democratic elections and the people choose a regime that violates the principles of Western human rights? What happens if, after tremendous Western effort to force democratic elections, the electorate chooses to reject Western values and pursue a very different direction? George Friedman, leading expert at Stratfor, the US intelligence consulting firm, offers a view on recent development in Egypt.

While the fears of an Islamist takeover in Morocco are overblown, the EU must in any event be willing show its faith in democracy by working with whichever political forces emerge from free elections, argues Daniel Novotný.

In a choreographed congress of the ruling United Russia party on 24 September, Russia's President Vladimir Medvedev agreed to lead a list of candidates for a parliamentary election on 4 December in view of becoming the next premier, and won a standing ovation for current PM Vladimir Putin by proposing that he run for president in the March 2012 elections.

The ongoing trial against Ukraine's former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is not political and EU circles should not link this issue to a possible freezing of negotiations on the Free Trade Area Agreement, said Ukrainian Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin in an exclusive interview with EurActiv.

Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko will free all political activists from jail by early October as part of a drive to mend ties with the European Union, according to a document obtained by Reuters yesterday (1 September).

The European Union said today (20 June) it was preparing to expand its sanctions on Syria in response to worsening violence against opponents of the government. 

Hungary's Fidesz party pushed a new constitution through parliament yesterday (18 April), bypassing an opposition boycott over complaints the move lacked consensus and will cement Fidesz power beyond the end of its term.

The Arab upheavals present a unique opportunity for the EU, if only it can formulate a cohesive foreign policy firmly behind democratic forces, writes Tunne Kelam, an Estonian member of the European Parliament for the centre-right EPP group.

When Southern and Eastern European countries rebelled against their non-democratic governments, the European Union supported their path to democracy and its influence was vital, writes Brussels-based researcher Hendrik Tiesinga, arguing that it would bring great advantages for all sides if the EU were to extend the same assistance to the Southern Mediterranean now.

Events in Libya are different from those in Tunisia and Egypt and could eventually lead to civil war there, according to global intelligence company Stratfor. This could in turn have a profound impact on other countries in the region and affect the political stability of the whole Middle East, warns Stratfor in a commentary.