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'There will be only one voice': Hong Kong stifles its grassroots democracy - Financial Times

Orban reiterated his governments narrative that Hungary was in chaos before he took over in 2010. He paid a backhanded tribute to George Soros, saying that if the Hungarian-born US billionaire had not launched his migration program, we would never have made it into the headlines. He called all progressive causes gender ideology, pro-migration, wokeness a biological virus that undermines the nation state, and if the nation state is defeated, the West will go under. Orban called the foreign policy of the US Democrats part of this virus that is leading us into war, omitting to mention it was Russia that invaded Ukraine. Finally, he advised his fellow politicians in attendance among them former Czech PM Andrej Babis and Slovenias Janez Jansa that if they want to win elections, they need to put this slogan on their flags: No migration, no gender, no war. He urged participants to take back the liberal strongholds of Brussels and Washington, hoping for Trumps return to the White House and a far-right victory in the European elections in 2024.

Elsewhere in Hungary, protests in Budapest demanding better pay for teachers and a 21st-century education system that includes an Education Ministry not part of the Interior Ministry turned violent on Wednesday evening when students clashed with police in front of Orbans office in the Castle District. The PMs office has been cordoned off for months, purportedly due to construction work in the vicinity. Opposition politicians have several times tried to pull down the barricades, which they argue obstructs the media from putting any questions to politicians arriving to see the PM. Journalists are also blocked off from government politicians at the parliament. The students began their protest on Wednesday in downtown Budapest, ending their march in front of the PMs office up in the Castle Hill. They brought along whipped cream sprays to hand to police as child protection sprays, urging them to use those instead of tear gas. The police were not amused. When the students started to remove the cordons, they replied with tear gas and batons. One student beaten up was barely 16 years old, the media reported. The opposition Momentum partys deputy leader was handcuffed and held in custody for hours. This was the most violent clash since last years election. The pro-government media dismissed the protests as organised by far-left activists.

The three-day visit of Pope Francis appeared to meet all expectations in Hungary, as both those who are pro-government and those who are critical found the messages delivered by the head of the Catholic Church positive and reassuring. Orbans activity on social media hit record highs as he introduced his populous family to the pope and posted family photos with him, although stealing the slogan of the LGBT community family is family caused uproar, given it trended as a line for criticising his governments restrictive family policies that practically banned adoption for same-sex couples. The government rolled out its disingenuous peace narrative, underlining that the Vatican and Hungary are the only two countries in Europe advocating for peace in Ukraine. It also welcomed Franciss praising of its family policies and condemning gender ideology in his speech. The other side, however, highlighted how the pope urged people to open their doors to migrants and the poor. The pope also found time to meet Metropolitan (bishop) Hilarion, a representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Budapest, with whom he discussed peace and offered help in the repatriation of Ukrainian children.

See the original post:
Democracy Digest: Orban Says West Under Attack From 'Progressive Biological Virus' - Balkan Insight

Regarding E.J. Dionne Jr.s May 1 op-ed, Biden looks to challenge Republicans on freedom:

I am disappointed that the definitions offered by our Democratic Party are so outdated. When will we realize that as society evolves so should our definitions of freedom? How about freedom to have a meaningful voice in between elections?

Across Europe, governments are moving away from minimalistic definitions of democratic engagement tied to a vote. From the German Bundestag to Paris, deliberative citizens assemblies are set up to provide citizens with a seat in policy reform.

I was one of four guarantors of the French citizens assembly on the end of life. After weeks of learning, the 184 citizens selected by democratic lottery listened to each other, deliberated and presented proposals to President Emmanuel Macron to allow assisted suicide and euthanasia. Despite the sensitive topic, the report was approved by an overwhelming 92 percent.

I am a proud owner of Norman Rockwells Four Freedoms poster truly revolutionary for the 1940s. In 2023, President Biden and his team would be wise to update their definition of freedom in its richest sense to include the freedom to have consequential voice and provide meaningful input in government decision-making in between elections.

Marjan H. Ehsassi, Washington

The writer is a nonresident future of democracy fellow at the Berggruen Institute.

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Opinion | Democracy encompasses more than elections - The Washington Post

Today, a great people of Sudan are in charge, Mr. Trump said. New democracy is taking root.

Mr. Feltman and other former and current U.S. officials say supporting democracy should still be the cornerstone of American policy in Sudan, given the aspirations expressed in protests that led to the ouster in 2019 of President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, the dictator of 30 years. Congressional leaders are now calling for Mr. Biden and the United Nations to appoint special envoys to Sudan.

The setbacks in Sudan follow other democratic disappointments in northern Africa, including a military counterrevolution in neighboring Egypt a decade ago; nearly 10 years of political anarchy in Libya, another neighbor of Sudan, after its dictator,Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, was overthrown; and a recent return to one-man authoritarian rule in Tunisia after a decade as the only country to emerge from the 2011 Arab Spring with a democratic government.

Mr. al-Bashirs downfall four years ago led to joyous displays from Sudanese who hoped that democracy might take root their country despite its failures elsewhere in the region. After several months of junta rule, Sudans military and civilian leaders signed a power-sharing agreement that created a transitional government headed by Mr. Hamdok, an economist. The plan envisioned elections after three years.

However, a council formed to help manage the transition was a bit of a fig leaf, since it had more military than civilian members, Susan D. Page, a former U.S. ambassador to South Sudan and a professor at the University of Michigan, said in a post on her schools website. Important civilian voices were excluded, a problem that would persist into negotiations this year.

After the military coup in October 2021, the United States froze $700 million in direct assistance to Sudans government and suspended debt relief, while the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund froze $6 billion in immediate assistance and plans to forgive $50 billion of debt. Other governments and institutions, including the African Development Bank, took similar steps.

Ned Price, the State Department spokesman at the time, said that our entire relationship with Sudans government might be re-evaluated unless the military restored the transitional government.

See the original post:
How U.S. Efforts to Guide Sudan to Democracy Ended in War - The New York Times

To keep it comparatively short and simple I will address only the title of Ron Yezzi's April 29 My View: "Representative democracy in danger."

That title reminds me of a David Rhode interview published in Vox no bastion of conservative thought May 13, 2020.

Mr. Rhode, a leading investigative journalist and author, expressed concern over the growth of a permanent or institutional government.

He named executive branch departments FBI, CIA and NSA.

Also included under the executive branch are unelected, unaccountable bureaucrat regulators. They govern without direct consent of the governed. They dictate much of our economy and daily lives. Regulations are necessary, but I think some are excessive and in dire need of reform.

It appears the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to curb the power of the bureaucratic state by rolling back the Chevron Doctrine. I think that would be a very good thing for representative democracy, the separation of powers and federalism.

Bob Jentges

North Mankato

Read more here:
Restraint of government good for democracy | Letters To The Editor ... - Mankato Free Press