On Thursday (02.12), Agnieszka Pomaska participated in the Summit for Democracy event organized by the House Democracy Partnership (HDP), a bipartisan committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, the International Republican Institute (IRI), and the National Democratic Institute (NDI).
Convened by President Biden, the first Democracy Summit brought together leaders from government, civil society, and the private sector – recognizing that democracy is not defined solely by government officials, but through the participation of the entire democratic society. They discussed, among other things, reviving and strengthening democracy around the world and working together to find the best solutions to our greatest common challenges.
Agnieszka Pomaska, MP, was one of the speakers during the first panel „System of checks and balances: Legislative Oversight, a Tool to Reduce Authoritarianism.” She provided answers to questions such as:
1. How can the legislature effectively fulfill its role as a check on the executive to ensure a balance of power and protect civic space and civil liberties?
2. How can parliaments best engage with civil society through two-way mechanisms that build trust and enhance their oversight capacity? What other allies do legislators have in this important task?
3 What are the vulnerabilities that legislatures and democratic institutions face in the context of growing authoritarian tendencies, and what lessons do you have on how to strengthen legislative resilience?
In addition to Ms Pomaska, the panel included Benson Rolland Igbakpa from Nigeria and Diana DeGette from the US.
