The coronavirus pandemic has gone hand-in-hand with considerable democratic backsliding. According to a new study, democratic freedoms were undermined in 83 countries from March 2020 to September 2020. This should concern all of us. Oversight and accountability during the Covid-19 pandemic are essential for both the public and democratic health of a nation.
We set out to explore the role that legislatures played in responding to Covid-19. In particular, we looked at how they scrutinised governments’ actions.
Legislatures are central to modern democratic politics. But they are often bypassed during moments of crisis as presidents and prime ministers prioritise a rapid response. This is true for both established democracies and new democracies in which political institutions are still strengthening.
Covid-19 has raised particular challenges for legislatures. For example, social distancing requirements have made it harder for them to sit as usual. On the other hand, the…