MCC Votes & Seats Podcast – Election insight

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Az MCC Politikatudományi Műhelyének beszélgetéssorozatában szakértők és politikusok segítségével azt elemezzük, hogy a különböző európai országokban aktuálisan zajló parlamenti és önkormányzati választásoknak mely szereplők a valódi nyertesei és mi tekinthető igazi győzelemnek a szavazások után.------------------------------With the help of local guest experts, in the podcast series of the MCC Center for Political Science, we endeavor to analyze which actors are the real winners of the parliamentary elections taking place throughout Europe, and what exactly can be considered an ultimate victory after the ballot counts.

  1. Aug 25

    Kosovo’s June 2026 Election: Crisis, Fatigue, and Eggs in the Parliament

    Kosovo’s June 2026 parliamentary election was held amid a prolonged institutional crisis and following two previous votings within 18 months. The election did little to alter the political balance, while voter turnout and overall political engagement declined significantly, reflecting widespread fatigue and institutional deadlock. A central issue was the unresolved presidential election, for persistent disagreements between the ruling Vetëvendosje party and the opposition prevented a compromise. The campaign focused less on policy and more on accusations of obstruction. Our guest analysts, Mr. Mehdi Sejdiu from Heidelberg University highlights the opposition’s difficulty attracting younger and female voters, while Vetëvendosje continues to benefit from strong support among these groups. Mr. Sejdiu argues that a consensual presidential candidate from outside the major parties might potentially offer the most viable path out of the crisis… Participants: Mehdi SejdiuPolitical Scientist, Heidelberg University Bálint L. TóthHost, Researcher/Lecturer, MCC Center for Political Science With the help of guest experts and politicians, in the podcast series of MCC’s Centre for Political Science we endeavor to analyze which actors are the real winners of the parliamentary and municipal elections taking place this year in different European countries and what exactly can be considered a real victory after the ballot counts.

    Kosovo’s June 2026 Election: Crisis, Fatigue, and Eggs in the Parliament

  2. Jul 4

    Armenia's 2026 Legislative Election - At the Dawn of a New Geopolitical Era

    According to Mr. Grigoryan, the 2026 Armenian parliamentary election took place in a transformed geopolitical environment following Azerbaijan’s 2023 takeover of Nagorno-Karabakh, the displacement of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians, and progress toward a draft peace treaty in 2025. The expert claims that the campaign focused on national security, the peace process with Azerbaijan, economic performance, corruption, governance, and Armenia’s geopolitical orientation. The government also highlighted alleged coup attempts and arrested several prominent figures. Three parties entered parliament. The outcome was widely seen as a renewed mandate for Prime Minister Pashinyan, who reaffirmed Armenia’s commitment to closer EU ties while continuing to balance relations with Russia-led institutions. If you want to learn more about how support for different political forces was distributed across the country, the demographic makeup of the electorate, and the issues that mattered most to Armenian voters during the campaign, tune in to the latest episode of Votes & Seats! Participants: Armen GrigoryanCo-founder & President, Center for Policy Studies Bálint L. TóthResearcher, MCC Center for Political Science With the help of guest experts and politicians, in the podcast series of MCC’s Centre for Political Science we endeavor to analyze which actors are the real winners of the parliamentary and municipal elections taking place this year in different European countries and what exactly can be considered a real victory after the ballot counts.

    Armenia's 2026 Legislative Election - At the Dawn of a New Geopolitical Era

  3. May 4

    Breaking the Curse? - Bulgaria’s 7th Early Parliamentary Election since 2021

    In this episode, Dr. Bálint L. Tóth sits down with Dr. Katia Mihailova of the University of National and World Economy in Sofia to unpack the far-reaching implications of Bulgaria’s 19 April 2026 legislative election—an unprecedented 8th snap vote since 2021. Against a backdrop of political crisis, corruption scandals, rising living costs, and allegations of vote buying, the conversation explores what the results reveal about Bulgaria’s shifting political, social, economic, and cultural landscape. The discussants examine the internal dynamics and external influences shaping the outcome, from regional party strongholds to the voting preferences of different social groups. At the heart of the discussion is Dr. Mihailova’s striking argument that this election may have broken the long-standing “silence of the voters,” signaling an end to political apathy and a possible turning point for Bulgarian democracy. What emerges is a compelling analysis of an election that matters not only for Bulgaria’s future, but for understanding broader transformations across Europe. With the help of guest experts and politicians, in the podcast series of MCC’s Centre for Political Science we endeavor to analyze which actors are the real winners of the parliamentary and municipal elections taking place this year in different European countries and what exactly can be considered a real victory after the ballot counts.

    Breaking the Curse? - Bulgaria’s 7th Early Parliamentary Election since 2021

  4. Apr 13

    2026 Slovenian Legislative Election – Who did Europe’s Green Heart Choose?

    Slovenia held a scheduled legislative election on March 22, 2026. The citizens of this small Central European country – often referred to as Europe’s Green Heart – had the chance to choose from two large and several minor parties. The election was accompanied by an intensive and harsh campaign, centered around the clash between the governing leftist Freedom Movement (GS) led by prime minister Robert Golob and Janez Jansa’s right-wing Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS). In addition, the last period of the campaign was characterized by turbulent international developments due to the war in Iran, leading to soaring energy prices and even the introduction by the government of a limitation on gas for households and businesses sold at gas stations. Amid the growing uncertainty, a corruption scandal broke out that shook both the political sphere and the Slovenian electorate, making the situation of the largest governing party uncomfortable. However, seeing the close result, the opposition forces (prominently, the SDS) could not really benefit from the scandal. What is the Slovenian party system like? How do Slovenians choose from different parties? What was the campaign like? When can Europe’s Green Heart have a new government, and how stable will it be? Szabolcs Janik, senior researcher of the Center for Political Science (MCC) had the honor to discuss these and similarly interesting questions with professor Matevž Tomšič, lecturer at the School of Advanced Social Studies. With the help of guest experts and politicians, in the podcast series of MCC’s Centre for Political Science we endeavor to analyze which actors are the real winners of the parliamentary and municipal elections taking place this year in different European countries and what exactly can be considered a real victory after the ballot counts.

    2026 Slovenian Legislative Election – Who did Europe’s Green Heart Choose?

  5. 11/13/2025

    Dutch Early General Election: The Race of the Smallest “Big Parties”

    For the first time in decades, the Netherlands faces a virtual tie at the top: the social-liberal Democrats 66 and the right-wing populist Party for Freedom are both projected to secure 26 mandates each in the House of Representatives. It’s the best-ever election performance for the former party, while for the latter one, it’s a bitter reminder of their voter base’s volatility. The former coalition parties all saw their influence wane, while several traditional formations made surprising comebacks. The margin between the two leading actors is the narrowest since 1956. However, as our guest expert, Dr. Jaap van Slageren from Utrecht University pointed out: the biggest players have never been so small in Dutch politics, due to the electoral system based on fully proportional representation. What were the key factors that ultimately led to the Schoof cabinet’s failure? Which issues are currently most pressing for Dutch society, and how have the political parties responded to these challenges? What do the geographic and demographic trends reveal about the historical, economic, or cultural factors shaping Dutch politics today? In our latest episode, we sought answers to these and other interesting questions. With the help of guest experts and politicians, in the podcast series of MCC’s Centre for Political Science we endeavor to analyze which actors are the real winners of the parliamentary and municipal elections taking place this year in different European countries and what exactly can be considered a real victory after the ballot counts.

    Dutch Early General Election: The Race of the Smallest “Big Parties”

  6. 10/10/2025

    Babiš Is Back: What Czechia’s 2025 Legislative Election Reveals

    Former PM Andrej Babiš’s ANO emerged as the largest party in the Czech Parliament’s Lower House, marking a major comeback with strong electoral support. According to political scientist Ladislav Cabada, a key factor in the victory was that Babiš positioned himself as the leader of the opposition, formed a visible shadow government, and maintained effective communication. Our guest expert stresses that ANO outperformed other, rather radical opposition parties and consolidated support from voters leaning toward these groups, presenting himself as a unifying character. ANO focused primarily on domestic economic and social issues, resonating with voters, while the governing parties prioritized foreign policy, which many perceived as disconnected from their everyday concerns. If you’d like to learn more about the background of the 2025 Czech election — including the contesting parties, the campaign themes, as well as the electoral system and geography — be sure to check out the latest episode of the Votes &  Seats podcast. With the help of guest experts and politicians, in the podcast series of MCC’s Centre for Political Science we endeavor to analyze which actors are the real winners of the parliamentary and municipal elections taking place this year in different European countries and what exactly can be considered a real victory after the ballot counts.

    Babiš Is Back: What Czechia’s 2025 Legislative Election Reveals

  7. 10/08/2025

    2025 Moldovan Parliamentary Election – Staying on the Path to EU Membership

    A scheduled parliamentary election was held in Moldova on September 28, 2025, a political event closely followed by the international press and western political leaders. Indeed, the stakes were high, centered around the country's future path towards EU membership or the building of closer ties to Moscow. The result reflects the electorate's western orientation as the pro-European party of president Maia Sandu (PAS) secured an absolute majority in the legislature, obtaining more than half of the total votes (50.20%). What was the campaign like? How did the parties perform compared to last year's presidential election and referendum? Why were two smaller parties excluded from the election? Did Russia interfere in the election? What might be the geopolitical consequences of the election? How will the new cabinet deliver on its promises? Szabolcs Janik, senior researcher of the Center for Political Science at MCC had the chance to discuss these and similar questions with Nicolae Panfil, program director and head of the Promo-LEX Parliamentary Election Observation Mission. Nicolae Panfil - Program Director and Head of Promo-LEX Szabolcs Janik (host) - Senior Researcher, Center for Political Science, MCC With the help of guest experts and politicians, in the podcast series of MCC’s Centre for Political Science we endeavor to analyze which actors are the real winners of the parliamentary and municipal elections taking place this year in different European countries and what exactly can be considered a real victory after the ballot counts.

    2025 Moldovan Parliamentary Election – Staying on the Path to EU Membership

  8. 09/17/2025

    The Labour Holds On, the Opposition Field Transforms: Norway’s 2025 Legislative Election

    The episode analyzes Norway's September 2025 parliamentary election with expert Dr. Herman Smith-Sivertsen. The Labor Party won 28% of votes, securing government leadership in a minority. The Conservatives dropped to third place, while the conservative-libertarian Progress Party became the largest opposition force. Amid debates over electricity pricing, taxation, climate policies, immigration, and crime, the Progress Party successfully reached younger voters notably using TikTok. Regional voting patterns in the Nordic state still show a historical divide, with southern-southwestern areas favoring conservative forces and central-northern regions leaning left. As for political debates, the expert notes a trend toward more superficial, show-like communication. Overall, the election reflects a slowly but surely shifting Norwegian political landscape. With the help of guest experts and politicians, in the podcast series of MCC’s Centre for Political Science we endeavor to analyze which actors are the real winners of the parliamentary and municipal elections taking place this year in different European countries and what exactly can be considered a real victory after the ballot counts.

    The Labour Holds On, the Opposition Field Transforms: Norway’s 2025 Legislative Election
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Az MCC Politikatudományi Műhelyének beszélgetéssorozatában szakértők és politikusok segítségével azt elemezzük, hogy a különböző európai országokban aktuálisan zajló parlamenti és önkormányzati választásoknak mely szereplők a valódi nyertesei és mi tekinthető igazi győzelemnek a szavazások után.------------------------------With the help of local guest experts, in the podcast series of the MCC Center for Political Science, we endeavor to analyze which actors are the real winners of the parliamentary elections taking place throughout Europe, and what exactly can be considered an ultimate victory after the ballot counts.

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