Specifically, Obama said that it must be recognized that America will not become undemocratic in a big boom, but the road will be paved with multiple steps.Continue reading
US President Joe Biden has invited some 110 countries to a virtual summit on democracy from December 9-10, the US State Department announced on Tuesday. However, the Hungarian government was not invited to the event.
During the election campaign, Joe Biden promised, if elected, to convene a summit of governments and civil societies who want to take action against the decline of democracy and human rights. More than 100 countries have reportedly been invited to the virtual event in December.
The United States is inviting those countries to the Democracy Summit in three weeks’ time that are setting the bar high for themselves and others in the renewal of democratic values, policies, and institutions, Uzra Zeya, the US State Department’s Undersecretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, told leftist daily Népszava. They also bear in mind that no democracy is perfect.
As Telex reports, Poland was invited despite a dispute with the European Commission over the rule of law, but Hungary was not. According to Népszava, in their telephone interview, Uzra Zeya deflected all questions about the invitees. He said that the global decline of democracy has been going on for fifteen years, with authoritarian regimes preventing people from freely expressing their will, violating their fundamental rights, and corrupt public actors unduly restricting their access to information. Political divisions, misinformation, and discrimination plague even well-functioning democracies like the U.S. But societies that respect and protect human rights, uphold the rule of law, and promote inclusive, accountable governance are best equipped to find lasting solutions to the most difficult problems.
Biden expressed several times before that he does not support the Orbán-led government, and the Hungarian Prime Minister had also said during the US elections that he was rooting for Donald Trump.
Featured photo by MTI/EPA/Jim Lo Scalzo
