Anti-Democratic Trends Mean 65% of CEE Citizens Now Live in Electoral Autocracies: Report

Among the new ‘autocratizers’ are Croatia, Slovakia and Slovenia, says report compiled by V-Dem Institute in Sweden.

17 Mar, 10:28 — 17 Mar, 14:16

Why this matters

The classification of countries as 'electoral autocracies' by a reputable institute highlights a concerning trend of democratic backsliding in Central and Eastern Europe. This shift can have significant implications for human rights, rule of law, and geopolitical stability in the region, affecting citizens' freedoms and international relations.

Key entitiesV-Dem Institute Georgia Croatia Slovakia Slovenia

The Story

What 2 sources agree on, dispute, and miss

What sources agree on

The V-Dem Institute, a Sweden-based research organization, published its Democracy Report 2026.
The report classifies certain countries as 'electoral autocracies.'

Key claims2 agreed · 2 unverified

✓

The V-Dem Institute is a Sweden-based research organization.

agreed·civil-gebalkan-insight

✓

The V-Dem Democracy Report 2026 classifies Georgia as an 'electoral autocracy.'

agreed·civil-gebalkan-insight

65% of CEE citizens now live in electoral autocracies.

unverified·balkan-insight

Croatia, Slovakia, and Slovenia are among the new 'autocratizers.'

unverified·balkan-insight

Where they diverge

Primary focus of the report's findings

balkan-insight

Regional trend of anti-democratic shifts in CEE, with 65% of citizens living in electoral autocracies.

civil-ge

Georgia's specific and continued classification as an 'electoral autocracy.'

Coverage gaps

Specific countries newly classified as 'autocratizers' (Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia)

Reportedbalkan-insight

Missingcivil-ge

Mention of Georgia's period of democratization having 'lasted'

Reportedcivil-ge

Missingbalkan-insight

The Story

Analyzing sources…

Source Diversity

Low (24/100)

2 sources— more sources would strengthen this score15/33

Spectrum spread— 1/5 buckets covered0/33

Far L

Left2

Left (2)

civil-gebalkan-insight

Center

Right

Far R

Geographic diversity— 2 regions9/34

Georgia1Serbia1

ℹOnly 2 sources cover this story

Sources

Showing 2 of 2 sources

balkan-insightMostly Factual152d ago