Democratic Security
Events
Think Tank
Is CEE Facing a Detroit Moment?
5 November 2026
Join us on Thursday, 12 November, 2:30 pm CET on Zoom.
On 25 October 2026 the Student List won Serbia’s early parliamentary election.
Central Europe received the result in different ways. Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar was the first foreign leader to call the Student List, while Slovak PM Robert Fico had backed Vučić before the vote.
Belgrade’s future course remains open. Student List candidates have said the new government would halt arms exports to conflict zones, including sales through Western intermediaries that pass Serbian weapons to Ukraine (which some CEE countries have been purchasing), and would not join EU sanctions on Russia. Moreover, Hungary’s acquisition of Gazprom’s stake in Serbia’s NIS has not yet been completed, and one could question the deal’s continuity following the elections.
The conversation will feature:
Gazela Pudar Draško, a political sociologist serving as Senior Research Fellow and Director at the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade.
Marta Szpala, a political analyst, lecturer, journalist and commentator specialising in the Western Balkans.
Moderator: Pavel Havlíček, Visegrad Insight Fellow, research fellow at AMO (Association for International Affairs).
REGISTER FOR THE EVENT BY SCROLLING DOWN OR CLICKING HERE.
Our events are organised for our subscribers. Help us build democratic resilience in Europe by subscribing now with a 25% discount. More details about the offer HERE.
Key discussion points:
- What game should CEE countries play with the new Serbia, and where do Warsaw, Prague, Bratislava and Budapest diverge?
- With Vučić gone, Robert Fico and Andrej Babiš lose a political ally in Belgrade. How will they deal with the new government?
- What institutional transition challenges face the new parliament, from forming a government to the presidential election due by 27 December?
- What is the fate of Hungary’s presence in Vojvodina, particularly through the NER and VMSZ projects?
- Will Belgrade change course on ammunition reaching Ukraine, and can CEE partners move Serbia towards more open support?
Register by filling out the form:
Your Central European Intelligence
Democratic security comes at a price. What is yours?
Subscribe now for full access to expert analysis and policy debate on Central Europe.
