The incoming Hungarian PM Péter Magyar and Slovakia's Robert Fico spoke for the first time since the election and revived a long-dormant dispute over the Beneš Decrees.
It was proof that post-war borders and grievances still shape politics to this day.
robjcameron.substack.com/p/maps-matter
Prague was ahead of the curve.
Before psychedelics became front-page news, Czech doctors were already using psilocybin to treat severe depression.
I spoke with them about what they were seeing.
robjcameron.substack.com/p/the-magic-...
Nice. The Bata Heritage Centre in East Tilbury (Essex) has an open day on Saturday 26th…
www.bataheritagecentre.org.uk/upcoming-eve...
I wrote about his incredible global legacy here:
robjcameron.substack.com/p/the-everyt...
As Russia continues to pummel Ukraine’s churches and museums, a Czech project is using state-of-the-art 3D scanning technology to preserve the country's cultural heritage before it’s gone.
robjcameron.substack.com/p/scanning-f...
(photo: Jae C. Hong, AP)
Another evocative view of Bratislava’s Rybné námestie (Fish Square) with the Neolog synagogue still standing. It was demolished in 1969 to make way for the approach road to the SNP bridge.
Oh to travel back in time!
I tried to do so here:
robjcameron.substack.com/p/to-the-cas...
Of course. Thanks for the correction!
Very interesting. Trump signs law to accelerate use of psychedelics in treatment of major depression ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3bS...
And as we well know Czechs are trailblazers in this field!
robjcameron.substack.com/p/the-magic-...
The badly damaged but standing New Synagoge in Eastern Berlin was also partially demolished by the authorities while the Stasi harassed it's congregation. Restoration didn't occur until after the fall of the Berlin Wall
Notably, the Great Synagogue of Vilna in today's Lithuania, was roofless but standing in 1945, and the Soviets deliberately razed it to the ground and built a school on it, to eliminate all traces
They similarly destroyed several old Jewish cemeteries, using the headstones for paving
Lovely article about a vanished world. Worth noting also that the Communist bloc was rather fond of demolishing synagogues and Jewish sites, even those which survived the Nazis relatively intact
Thanks @deargodwhatnow.bsky.social and for the other ones below.
Came across this stunning colour photo of Bratislava’s Neolog synagogue in 1969 - the year it was demolished to make way for the approach road to the SNP bridge.
It makes a vanished city feel suddenly close.
It's why I wrote To The Castle.
robjcameron.substack.com/p/to-the-cas...
While Russia bombs Ukrainian culture, a Czech team is trying to save it - with 3D scanning technology.
Churches, museums, memory itself.
New piece:
robjcameron.substack.com/p/scanning-f...
Some of Ukraine’s cultural artefacts are already gone.
Others are now being scanned in 3D before they disappear.
I’ve seen how it works up close:
robjcameron.substack.com/p/scanning-f...
Ukraine is racing to 3D-scan its cultural artefacts before Russia destroys them - using technology developed in the Czech Republic.
I’ve seen it in action. This is how it works.
Here’s the full story:
robjcameron.substack.com/p/scanning-f...
A Czech team built a mobile 3D scanning unit to preserve Ukraine’s cultural landmarks - before they’re destroyed by Russia.
I've seen how it works.
Story tomorrow.
robjcameron.substack.com
Today:
really is an atrocity.
I hadn’t seen this before. A photograph from a Bratislava that no longer exists.
The Orthodox synagogue in Zámocká Street, demolished in 1961.
Once you know it was there, the absence stays with you. I wrote about that here:
robjcameron.substack.com/p/to-the-cas...
📷 facebook.com/BratislavaRe...
Two palaces on the Danube. Orbán on one balcony, Magyar on the other. A few metres apart - and heading in opposite directions.
x.com/wartranslate...
This election will ripple across Central Europe. More here:
robjcameron.substack.com/p/ripples-on...
While most of Europe is still debating psychedelics, the Czech Republic has moved ahead.
Psilocybin - the compound in magic mushrooms - is now being used in treatment for severe depression.
It's a quiet shift, but a significant one.
robjcameron.substack.com/p/the-magic-...
Weekends like this look like turning points.
But in Central Europe, they’re usually just another layer on a map that’s been redrawn for centuries.
This piece looks at that deeper continuity:
robjcameron.substack.com/p/maps-matter
An answer to (3) at least.
hvg.hu/itthon/20260...
Possible of course. With some Hlas rebels maybe. Not far-right SNS.
I think stable in the sense that many coalition MPs realise they are probably going to lose their seats at the next election, so will stay on the gravy train. If Fico sees benefit in blowing up his own govt before that date then he'll do it. But if not, I reckon it'll limp on til autumn 2027.
Three questions for Central Europe this morning:
(1) How quickly will Hungary lift its veto of the €90b loan to Ukraine?
(2) Will Fico follow through with his threat to block the loan in Orbán’s place?
(3) Where is Péter Szijjártó?
robjcameron.substack.com/p/ripples-on...
📷 @tmbk on other site
Orbán is finished. But what about Orbanism?
Magyar needs 133 seats for a constitutional majority to dismantle his system of 'illiberal democracy.' It looks tight.
Meanwhile, what will Orbán's exit mean for other populists in the region - and beyond?
robjcameron.substack.com/p/ripples-on...
