Democracy in Europe still declining

Sixty-five percent of Central and Eastern Europe is under the control of an “electoral autocracy,” according to the University of Gothenburg V-Dem Institute’s 2026 Democracy Report, released on Tuesday. Analysts consider 11 countries to be transitioning to autocracy, up three from the previous year and including European Union members Croatia, Slovenia and Slovakia. By the institute’s metrics, only 29 percent of the region’s population lives under a true democracy. The rise of authoritarianism in Central and Eastern Europe reflects a desire for strong leadership that will soon affect Germany as well.