Just as commentators began to warn that the COVID-19 pandemic might develop into a “disaster for democracy”, we are witnessing the “most drastic and substantive modernising of how parliament functions in living memory.” Often criticised as supine, slow, and historically risk averse, parliaments in many countries are displaying remarkable flexibility and determination. They are recalibrating the power imbalances that the fight against the pandemic has brought to the branches of government.
Unable to physically convene, dozens of parliaments have put in place measures for virtual sittings. Virtual parliaments are crucial to continuing to hold their governments to account, whose extensive use of emergency powers has led to historic constraints on democratic rights and liberties. This enables parliaments to maintain some form of democratic scrutiny and legislative function, to uphold public trust and the rule of law. These measures also provide an extraordinary testbed for the use of technology in parliament.
Digital parliaments are born?
Security and reliability are a major source of concern. Indeed, new technology and novel applications can produce new threats. Some countries have been fast to install or upgrade authentication of elected members for remote voting. Moreover they have adopted additional security controls and mitigation strategies, to ensure the safety of virtual public sittings.
