Robert Fico was once again elected on April 4th 2012. His style of governing seems to have undergone a radical change since his first term as head of government from 2006 – 2010. How should we interpret his way of governing? Can Robert Fico be described as a populist?

For the sake of sovereign debt crisis European Union institutions have to change. In particular a centralised economic government has been suggested. Is it an antidemocratic insanity? Or is it rather the only solution which may get Europe out of the crisis?

The National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD) was founded in 1964 and consisted mostly of the former DP and DRP. Since then the party has caused much controversy. The question naturally arises as to whether the party should and can from a legal standpoint, be banned.

On October 1st the former German finance minister Peer Steinbrück was nominated as candidate of the social democrats for the upcoming Federal elections next fall. Is he a viable alternative to the popular Chancellor Angela Merkel? Are he and his party capable of winning a relative majority in next year’s election?

The catastrophe of the nuclear power plant Fukushima has triggered a lively debate on civilian nuclear energy, particularly in France, where the largest share of electricity is produced by nuclear reactors. Should the accident impact French energetic policies?

Should the President of the Czech Republic be elected by universal suffrage? What would be the effects of such a change on democracy and the country's political scene?

The Gorilla report, proof of the corruption between political and economic elites, has since its appearance on the Internet on Christmas Eve generated a lot of passion in Slovak civil society. The question is now: will Gorilla trigger a real renewal of political elites? Or will it simply be swept under the rug?

On December 28th, the Slovak government has declared the state of alarm, forcing doctors, including strikers to return to duty. Has the government exceeded its powers by undermining the fundamental rights of doctors? Was it a legitimate act to end at all costs the unprecedented crisis of medical care?

On the 11th of March 2012 Polish feminists organised the annual demonstration and evoked a public debate on the Church's influence on public issues in Poland. Is a total separation of the Church and State desirable in general by Polish citizens? Or should the traditional position of the Church be maintained?

In May 2011 the Internal Security Agency confiscated the computer of the author of the blog which promotes content detrimental to the dignity of the current Polish President Bronisław Komorowski.