Balkan Developments

Turkish opposition regroups after ousting of Özgür Özel

Özgür Özel, the ousted chairman of Türkiye’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), has announced he is forming a new party. In May, the Ankara Court of Appeal annulled the 38th regular congress of the CHP from 2023, removed Özel from the leadership and reinstated Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu as party leader. The decision led to tension, protests and a split in the CHP.

According to a new opinion poll, cited by haberler.com and BTA, Özel’s new party would become the second-largest political force in Türkiye with 19.4% support, behind President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party, which would win 34.2%. 11.8% of voters would vote for CHP.

Romanians are divided between democracy and authoritarianism

Romanian society remains divided on democracy, according to a new survey by the INSCOP sociological agency. According to the results, 47.2% of respondents prefer democratic governance, even though it often leads to political debates and slower decision-making. Almost the same share – 46.3%, said they would accept a less democratic regime if it guaranteed more order and stability. Among those who would prefer an authoritarian regime, 60% have only primary education, 48% - secondary, and 24% - higher education, DIGI24.ro reports. The representative survey was conducted in the period July 13 to 16.

Foreign workers in Albania reach record levels

Albania reports a record number of foreign workers – 22,693 people with work permits as of June 30, 2026, compared to approximately 18,000 at the end of 2025. According to the Electronic Register for Foreigners of the State Police, 20,332 people work with a regular work permit and 2,361 are self-employed, albaniandailynews.com writes. The largest number of foreign workers are from the Philippines, India and Egypt, which account for nearly half of all employed foreigners. They work mainly in tourism, industry, transport, agriculture and domestic care. Among the self-employed, the largest group are citizens of Italy, followed by those of Kosovo, Türkiye and the United States. For reference, the population of Albania as of January 1, 2026 is 2,335,930 people, according to national statistics.

Croatia reaches out to young Croats living abroad

Croatia has established a Council of Young Croats Abroad, bringing together around 60 representatives of the diaspora. The aim is to strengthen young people’s ties with their homeland and encourage them to return home. Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said the country is offering a five-year income tax exemption for returning Croats who have lived abroad for at least two years, as well as grants to help them start their own businesses. He said the new council would give young Croats abroad the opportunity to participate in shaping policies that affect them, BTA reported. State Secretary Zvonko Milas said the council would be a permanent forum for dialogue between the state and Croatian communities around the world. He also said unemployment in the country had fallen from over 300,000 people 10 years ago to 61,000 today, with its level standing at 3.2%. About 150,000 foreign workers work in tourism, hospitality, transportation, services, and construction.

Volunteers rescue stray cats in Athens in 40°C heat

The ongoing heatwave in Athens is not only threatening the lives of people, but also the hundreds of stray cats who seek shade and water in temperatures above 40°C. Volunteers from the organization Nine Lives, in collaboration with the municipality, are caring for over 500 stray animals every day, providing them with water and food and monitoring their health. The volunteers have already set up dozens of water and food stations in areas where stray cats gather to help them survive the extreme heat, ertnews.gr reports. In Greece, stray animals are being sterilized and cared for on the streets, as shelters are often full, and long-term stays of animals in them, according to animal protection organizations, are less suitable for their well-being, the article notes.

Editor: Miglena Ivanova