Felipe VI: “La desafección y la insatisfacción con la democracia abren la puerta a los populismos”

King Felipe VI used the Open Government Summit to warn that growing citizen disillusionment with current democratic systems is fueling populism and polarization. Contrary to the old “end of history” theory, which assumed the inevitable victory of liberal democracy, the monarch pointed out that current evidence shows a widespread retreat of democracies worldwide. This gap between the theoretical preference for democracy and dissatisfaction with its practical functioning represents a vital crisis for institutional legitimacy. The relevance of this speech for the open data movement lies in the proposal of Open Government as a concrete solution to revitalize democratic quality. Far from being merely a set of administrative practices, it is presented as a governance culture based on fundamental principles such as transparency, participation, and accountability. By integrating public data and collaboration mechanisms, the aim is to bridge the distance between citizens and institutions, offering a tangible path to restore eroded public trust. Ultimately, the vitality of democracy depends on a constant collective commitment to ideals that are not static. Open Government thus emerges as an essential tool for advancing toward more inclusive and responsible governance. By promoting radical openness in the management of public affairs, it lays the foundations for strengthening democratic structures in the face of contemporary geopolitical challenges, demonstrating that access to information is key to an active and well-informed citizenry.

Source: lavanguardia.com
Published on 2025-10-10

Felipe VI: “La desafección y la insatisfacción con la democracia abren la puerta a los populismos”

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