Disinformation is a global challenge. It’s inflicting damage in many spheres of our lives. Perhaps most alarming is that it’s threatening democracy worldwide. People need access to reliable, authentic information to exercise their democratic rights and responsibilities. Good information is the oxygen of a thriving democracy. It is key to transparent government, and vital for citizens’ ability to hold governments to account. 

Given the current intensity of the COVID-19 global pandemic, many countries are declaring states of emergency. In some instances, these declarations may intend to contain the virus, but they can also represent a calculated attempt to erode democracy. To guard against opportunistic authoritarian governments leveraging COVID-19 to expand executive power at the expense of rule of law, legislative oversight, and human rights, NDI is monitoring four key indicators:

• separation of powers and executive authority in emergencies

Communities around the world are united by the challenges engendered by the COVID-19 threat. Local officials are at the forefront of the fight: the tone and immediacy of their response to this emergency not only define their leadership, but also directly impact the health and wellness of their citizens.

While public attention regarding COVID-19 has been focused on the health crisis and its economic repercussions, autocrats are moving quickly to Machiavelli’s maxim -- “never waste an opportunity offered by a good crisis.” Around the world, anti-democratic leaders are using the pandemic as a means of tipping (or skipping) elections, settling scores with political adversaries and channeling public funds to personal accounts.  Authoritarian opportunists use ‘

The COVID-19 pandemic has created unique challenges for legislators across the world, forcing emergency provisions in parliamentary procedure, innovative techniques for connecting with the citizenry, and legislative actions on urgent relief packages for communities in need.