While public attention regarding COVID-19 has been focused on the health crisis and its economic repercussions, autocrats are moving quickly to Machiavelli’s maxim -- “never waste an opportunity offered by a good crisis.” Around the world, anti-democratic leaders are using the pandemic as a means of tipping (or skipping) elections, settling scores with political adversaries and channeling public funds to personal accounts.  Authoritarian opportunists use ‘

As governments around the world rush to combat the spread of COVID-19, conflict-affected countries remain particularly vulnerable to its impacts. In Libya, NDI’s partner civil society organizations (CSOs) have risen to the occasion amidst ongoing violence, demonstrating the positive impacts of a robust and effective civil society.

On March 29, Mali held legislative elections as the country was coming to grips with the coronavirus pandemic. The official campaign period, which began March 8, was in full swing before the World Health Organization’s pandemic declaration forced the country to adopt restrictions on travel and large gatherings on March 11.

NDI is working with civil society in Ecuador to protect the integrity of upcoming elections in 2021. Digital disinformation is widely used in Ecuador, and there is growing concern information will be weaponized to manipulate public opinion and spread fictional information that undermines the public’s trust and voter confidence in the electoral institution, minimize political competitiveness and impair informed participation of voters during the upcoming elections.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created unique challenges for legislators across the world, forcing emergency provisions in parliamentary procedure, innovative techniques for connecting with the citizenry, and legislative actions on urgent relief packages for communities in need.