Opening speeches & Keynote Speech: Undoing autocracy

Budapest Forum 2025. was organized by the Municipality of Budapest, Political Capital, and CEU Democracy Institute to discuss the most pressing issues currently facing citizens of democratic and nominally democratic countries. The Forum explored and examines policy proposals under the banner of ‘Building Sustainable Democracies’.

Opening speeches

Carsten Q. Schneider – Interim President and Rector, CEU

• Schneider welcomed participants on behalf of the Democracy Institute and underlined that the Budapest Forum is not only a conference but also a democratic experiment that keeps the spirit of CEU alive in Budapest.
• He recalled the solidarity shown by Budapest’s citizens when CEU was forced to leave and stressed that the Forum’s mission is to address urgent challenges, from populism and geopolitics to climate change with participatory answers.

Benedek Jávor – Head of Brussels Representation, Budapest City Hall

• Jávor highlighted that despite government pressure and financial limits Budapest Forum has become an important space for democratic debate.
• He underlined that what was once a Hungarian issue – illiberal democracy – has become a global concern, now intensified by Russia’s war in Ukraine and China’s assertiveness.

Péter Krekó – Director, Political Capital Institute / Policy Leader Fellow, European University Institute

• Krekó mentioned that the Forum has grown into the largest pro-democracy gathering in Budapest, with 44 speakers and moderators, tackling issues such as rule of law, climate populism and disinformation.
• He underlined that threats must be clearly named, stressing solidarity with Ukraine and Taiwan in the face of Russian and Chinese pressure.

Gergely Karácsony – Mayor of Budapest

• Karácsony reminded that Budapest Forum was officially launched so Budapest would be linked not only with democratic backsliding but also with building democracy and sustainability. He referred to the prohibition of the 2025 Budapest Pride as a striking symbol of the city’s stance against the government.
• He also admitted progressives often failed by answering populism with elitism or polarization, and called for new politics that respond to people’s real problems and builds inclusive democratic models.

Undoing autocracy: Rebuilding the rule of law and democratic norms – Summary of the keynote ppeech by Rafał Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw

• Trzaskowski expressed gratitude for the invitation and recalled the cooperation of the Pact of Free Cities, stressing that Poland now has a democratic government again but that rebuilding democracy is extremely difficult.
• He underlined that undoing autocracy cannot simply mean turning back the clock: restoring the rule of law requires facing why populists gained support and building institutions that citizens can once again trust.
• The mayor of Warsaw argued that democracy must be seen as strength rather than weakness: while autocracy promises quick fixes, only democracy provides legitimacy, stability, and resilience.
• He warned that democracy requires constant care and vigilance, like health or the environment, urging progressives to show cautious optimism and to prove through concrete action that democratic systems can deliver.

Explore all the panel discussions from Budapest Forum 2025 here.