🇬🇧 INVITED TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT — TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PEOPLE’S RIGHT TO CHOOSE
I was invited to speak at a European Parliament event in Brussels examining snap elections and the democratic rights of European citizens.
My place on the agenda: the civil society panel, as a British journalist.
The question at the heart of this debate reaches far beyond Brussels:
WHO HOLDS THE POWER — THE PEOPLE, OR THOSE WHO GOVERN THEM?
My position is clear.
Public office belongs to the public. Governments must answer to voters. And citizens must be free to question, challenge and peacefully replace those who exercise power in their name.
That means free speech. Open scrutiny. Fair elections. And electoral safeguards that are lawful, transparent and open to challenge themselves.
Those principles must apply even when the establishment dislikes the candidates, the questions or the result.
With Romania a central case study, this discussion raised issues that should concern everyone who values democratic accountability.
Across Europe, we need the courage to defend the voter’s voice — especially when doing so is politically inconvenient.
Politicians are temporary custodians of power.
THE PEOPLE ARE ITS SOURCE.