Might COVID-19 Help Strengthening European Democracies?

This chapter deals with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the European democracies. The pandemic hit whilst European democracies were living a profound crisis. The Euro crisis of 2012 and the migrant crisis of 2015 have indeed put into question the founding values of the European Union as well as of its Member States. Further, where processes of democratic erosion were ongoing, the pandemic has accelerated them. Nevertheless, this chapter argues that the pandemic can be seen as an opportunity to strengthen constitutional democracy vis-à-vis its enemies, first of all populists. In European democracies, the rediscovery of the importance of the free public health system, the strong reaction coming from the European Union and the vindication of the value of competence and expertise have evidenced how the funding principles of constitutionalism are more resilient than they may look.