Brussels’ Dirty Tricks Campaign Against Hungary I MCC Brussels Podcast

In this episode, we talk about the EU’s unprecedented digital interference in the Hungarian election, the undemocratic "Cordon Sanitaire" rigging French local politics, and the shameful rise of anti-Semitic violence in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Host Jacob Reynolds is joined by MCC Brussels’ Head of Cultural Engagement Agnieszka Kolek and Research Fellow Richard Schenk to discuss the EU's direct intervention in national elections, what the French municipal elections tell us about the cordon sanitaire, and the deteriorating security situation for Jewish communities in Belgium and the Netherlands.

The Hungarian Election and EU Interference The European Commission has officially activated the "Rapid Response" mechanism of the Digital Services Act (DSA) to monitor and moderate content surrounding the Hungarian elections. While the Commission cites "Russian interference" as the primary justification, the lack of transparency in this process raises serious questions about the neutrality of the EU-funded fact-checking organisations now empowered to flag and delete political speech. This unprecedented transfer of power suggests that the Berlaymont is no longer a neutral arbiter, but an active participant seeking to influence the democratic outcome in Budapest.

The French Cordon Sanitaire and Electoral Strategy Following recent municipal elections in France, the traditional parties are once again attempting to deploy the "Cordon Sanitaire" to exclude the populist right from power. However, this strategy increasingly relies on forming uneasy alliances with the radical left, specifically the faction led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon. We explore how these tactical voting arrangements disenfranchise millions of voters and whether the right’s failure to form its own cohesive coalitions is ultimately responsible for the continued dominance of the centrist establishment in the French Fifth Republic.

Anti-Semitism and State Failure in the Low Countries A disturbing rise in anti-Semitic attacks, including bombings and threats against synagogues and Jewish schools, has highlighted a systemic failure in Belgian and Dutch security policy. Despite the known risks associated with radicalisation and foreign influence from the Iranian regime, local authorities have struggled to provide adequate protection for Jewish sites. The team discusses how the long-standing alliance between the political left and Islamist factions has created a permissive atmosphere for this hostility, forcing the state to consider military deployment to ensure the basic safety of its citizens.