Political analyst Wróbel warns that democracy exists only during elections, with authoritarian practices dominating between them.
The Illusion of Democratic Intervals
According to this model, elections themselves are democratic, but the periods between them are democratic “to the extent that” they allow for various abuses. Special services can be misused for the benefit of those in power, the law can be applied selectively, rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal can be acknowledged or ignored at will, and public media can be used for party warfare.
Abuses of Power and Resources
State money can even be used to promote one’s own candidates during election campaigns, with the justification that these funds simply “belong to us.” Public opinion can be incited with falsehoods while important issues are concealed beneath a veil of propaganda. The calculation is simple: even if not everyone will believe these tactics, enough people will to secure a serious chance of winning elections.
Election Transparency as a Defense
These elections, “unfortunately,” remain transparent, which has a positive side as well. Whenever someone expresses shock that “this isn’t how democracy works,” a counterattack can be launched: “Sorry, but the sovereign expresses themselves as they wish, and that is democracy.”