Democracy is a fragile concept. In historical terms it has not been around for too long. If we ignore the signs that it could be in danger, then like any other man-made concept, it could collapse.
That is why it is essential that it is never taken for granted, that it is nurtured and why constantly evolving concepts of governance must be rooted in a value system that people have died to protect.
Whatever Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s troll factories try to tell you, democracy is not the tyranny of the majority. That is what mob rule looks like. Democracy is majority rule with absolute protection of rights. The two are inseparable.
Corruption with impunity kills rights and is therefore incompatible with a functioning democracy.
That is why we must have an independent judiciary, a free media and freedom of speech. That is why we fight, despite the threats and despite the intimidation, to preserve democracy, the rule of law and people’s fundamental rights.
That is why the EU was born in the first place. Europe knows only too well the depths that man can sink to, and we promised that we would never allow it to happen again. That means we have to be on constant alert.
What we have...
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