COVID-19 has affected more than the health sector. It has also impacted international politics. Social distance and border closures have prevented the world from functioning as usual.
Also, the measures have wreaked havoc on the world’s population, creating anxiety among its citizens and uncertainty about the future.
Here are some things you need to know.
American Popularity
Some countries such as Italy, France, and the United Kingdom have seen a rise in popularity because of the decisions made by their leaders. However, the opposite is true in the United States.
President Donald Trump has seen a drop of up to 6 points in contrast to governors such as New York, North Carolina, and Michigan who have seen an increase of up to 20 points.
Totalitarianism
More than 84 countries in the world have taken the strictest confinement as an answer. Reporters Without Borders said that many of the governments of these countries have prevented their people from holding protests of any kind.
While on the other hand, the media have been silenced and even large-scale surveillance programs for tracking people have been revealed, violating their population’s privacy rights.
Worldwide Pressure
In Spain, President Pedro Sanchez tightened up the containment measures caused by the thousands of deaths every day. He called for a powerful unified and effective response to the economic crisis or the impact would be more severe, endangering the European project.
In Italy, President Giuseppe Conte warned that the whole European Project was at great risk, losing its meaning for all Europeans. In Germany, the export of personal protective equipment was banned as in France, provoking strong criticism from EU officials.
Individual Freedom
On April 1, sixteen European Union member nations warned that containment measures could weaken the rule of law. However, all countries supported the European Commission’s initiative to “Monitor emergency measures to ensure respect for the Union’s fundamental values”. Hungary joined this statement the next day.
The President of Hungary, János Áder, implemented extreme measures to combat the pandemic. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, declared her concern while State Minister Michael Roth suggested economic sanctions against Hungary.
It has become clear that most countries in the world are not prepared for a global pandemic and need to create action plans for future health and economic crises. Always take into account people’s freedom and right to production to understand the issue.
