In a recent speech, Theresa May emphasized the urgent need to address the issue of democracy in Europe. She expressed concern about the growing trend of people viewing democracy as a bad option, with around 30 percent of Great Britain’s population expressing this sentiment. May believes that democracies have become increasingly fragile and that social networks are playing a significant role in fueling division within society.
One of the reasons for this decline, according to May, is the disconnect between what voters want from politics and what is actually offered. Many people feel let down by politics and turn to populists and extremists who reject compromise. May believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin, who opposes Western democracies, poses a significant threat to democratic values in Europe.
To prevent Putin from gaining any more power, May emphasizes the importance of supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia. She also points out that democracies have shown their strength and resilience in certain instances, such as the election of Donald Tusk as Poland’s new head of government, which defeated the nationalist PiS party.
Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Lower Austria’s governor, also highlighted the importance of maintaining economic prosperity within the EU to regain success. She believes that over-regulation could hinder progress and urges leaders to focus on economic growth instead. Despite facing challenges like these, leaders like May and Mikl-Leitner remain committed to finding ways to ensure democracy’s resilience and strength in Europe.
Overall, it seems that democracy is under threat in Europe due to various factors such as disconnection between voters’ expectations and political offerings, polarization fueled by social media platforms, and external threats from authoritarian leaders like Putin. To address these issues effectively, leaders must work together towards promoting economic prosperity while upholding democratic values that enable citizens’ participation in decision-making processes.
