Democracy under seize during the pandemic

With the whole world deeply involved in managing the COVID crises, democracy is taking a backseat. Rulers across the globe understand that this is the perfect time to breach citizen’s privacy as the rest of the world will hardly notice. Some of the instances are as follows

Governments across the world need an extra tool to fight this pandemic, with almost 84 countries have enacted emergency laws vesting extra powers in the executive. In most of the cases, these powers are needed to fight the pandemic but need to see whether they will be relinquished after the COVID retreats. This would be testing times for those countries where democracy is shallow, and institutions are weak. Democracies with proper safeguards will not abuse power much.

China in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is governed under the formula one country, two systems. The people, by and large, enjoy the freedom of speech, foreign firms were safer, creating a financial hub for the world. This is putting to test by china banning Article 22, bans Chinese government offices from interfering in Hong Kong’s internal affairs. China has been incrementally grabbing the power in Hong Kong.

Hungary

·        The Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, has been eroding checks and balances for a decade. With the new rule, he can rule by a decree which effectively makes him a dictator, until the parliament revokes his powers. Even though Hungary is a member of the EU, it is acting like some of the African countries.

Bolivia

·        The pandemic has given more reason to postpone the elections

Guinea

·        The opposition is targeted and cannot campaign.

Azerbaijan

·        President openly threatens to use them to “isolate” the opposition.

Togo

·        Eligibility for Relief cash is only if you have a voters card, which many oppositions party members do not have boycotted the elections. It could result in selective distribution of cash.

 Zimbabwe and Libya

·        The regimes here use false news propaganda or fake news to arrest the critiques of the regimes.

Jordan, Oman, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates

·        Banned newspaper saying that it would cause the spread of coronavirus.

A recent World Bank study found that big inflows of aid to developing countries coincided with big outflows to offshore havens with secretive shell companies and banks. Censorship blocks the flow of information, frustrating an evidence-based response to the virus. It also lets corruption thrive. Partisan enforcement of social distancing destroys the trust in government needed if people are to follow the rules