Brussels Blues: Is Democracy Becoming Outdated?
This week, we welcome Shada Islam, a Brussels-based analyst focusing on Asian and EU matters as well as the Director of the New Horizons Project; Ken Godfrey, who leads the European Partnership for Democracy; and Jerome Bellion-Jourdan, a former European diplomat residing in Geneva.
The panel discusses the protests in Turkey sparked by the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor and presidential contender, Ekrem Ä°mamoÄŸlu. Tens of thousands have taken to the streets to express their frustration over political oppression and the escalating cost of living. However, the reaction from Brussels has remained subdued.
"We have backed authoritarian governments across various regions as we sought access to raw materials, oil, and natural gas. We also aimed to sell arms and desired leaders like Erdogan or others to halt migrant movements," Jerome Bellion-Jourdan stated before the panel.
A separate issue under debate involved Hungary’s authorities opting out of hosting this year's annual LGBTQ+ Pride event and permitting law enforcement to utilize biometric facial recognition technology to single out individuals attending, thereby enforcing their prohibition.
"The entitlement to protest, or the people’s right to assemble freely in public spaces, ought to be permitted. This right should remain intact as it is enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. In my view, such measures are intended to divert attention from matters concerning democracy and proper democratic conduct toward topics associated with culture, and what some leaders refer to as 'culture wars,'" stated Ken Godfrey.
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