Opening and Welcome Speeches

Speakers:

• Gergely Karácsony, Mayor of Budapest
• Benedek Jávor, Head of Brussels Representation, Budapest City Hall
• Zsuzsanna Szelényi, Program Director, CEU Democracy Institute Leadership Academy; Senior Fellow, CEPA; former Member of Parliament, Hungary
• Péter Krekó, Executive Director, Political Capital Institute

Main takeaways:

• This year’s conference focuses on the topic of elections. Since foreign interference prior to and during these elections is a significant phenomenon, several panels discuss this issue.
• It is important to have a safe space for discussion, especially in these politically and environmentally challenging times – the latter referring to the floods in Central and Eastern Europe.
• Despite some improvements, there is a rise in authoritarian regimes globally. However, it is important not only doom and gloom but to share best practices.
• In China, the leadership claims that “they are also a democracy, just a different kind”. This is only an answer to the Western critique. Authoritarian leaders usually claim that they don’t need the help of experts and civil society, they can make their own decisions and that NGOs only hinder this process.
• Liberal democracy is the best form of governing. Therefore, to preserve liberal democracy, we have to go beyond our understanding of what democracy means. And academia has an important role in it. At CEU a hub has been created during the past years (since it was closed as a university): researchers come together from five continents and do cutting-edge work- It has also become a meeting place for training etc.
• Liberal democracy was once fully accepted: it was the rulebook of the game in 1989/90. However, it was never fully understood or supported globally. Frustration with the new political and economic order gave rise to authoritarian populism, which has become a serious threat and democracy is in crisis.
• The crisis of democracy is linked to the climate and ecological crisis. And whether democracy survives, or whether we avoid climate catastrophe, depends on how people think. Because thoughts are very powerful.
• There is a huge difference between populism and politics, which responds to the needs of the people. Politicians should not lecture their citizens about abstract ideas such as sustainability, but make them feel safe with concrete steps (such as lowering speed limits or reducing traffic on their streets).

Opeing Speeches by Benedek Jávor – Head of Brussels Representation, Budapest City Hall; Zsuzsanna Szelényi – Director, Leadership Academy (DILA), Central European University Democracy Institute; Senior Fellow, CEPA and Péter Krekó – Director, Political Capital Institute; Senior Fellow, CEPA

Welcome Speech by Gergely Karácsony – Mayor of Budapest