Thousands hold umbrellas in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, Oct. 3, 2016, during a nationwide "Black Monday" strike. PAimages/Czarek Sokolowski. All rights reserved.This past week Poland's PiS government suffered its first blow since coming to power nearly a year ago. In what amounted to a complete U-turn following a dramatic parliamentary session in the wake of the Black Monday protest, PiS MPs struck down a proposed bill to ban abortion. Domestic and international media were quick to hail this as a victory for the anti-government protest movement. More so, PiS became divided over the issue as 32 MPs defied party discipline to vote against the bill.
It was an optimistic note in a region where illiberal populism and authoritarian governments are on the rise. During the same week in Hungary, a referendum challenging an EU plan to resettle refugees was held in which 98% of voters endorsed Orbán's FIDESZ government's anti-refugee and xenophobic stance.
Though the referendum turned out to be invalid due to insufficient turnout, the government presented it as a victory. Then, Hungary's largest opposition newspaper, Népszabadság, was suddenly forcibly closed down after criticising oligarchs and corrupt practices linked to the Orbán government.
