5 minutes
Elections as a Double-Edged Sword: Strengthening Democracy or Enabling Autocracy?
MEMO 98 and EPDE at the 29th Forum 2000 Conference, Prague | October 13, 2025
At the 29th Forum 2000 Conference in Prague, MEMO 98 and EPDE hosted a panel on how elections are increasingly used as tools of authoritarian control. Experts from Slovakia, Georgia, Moldova, and Kenya discussed new threats to electoral integrity and the need for stronger democratic alliances and innovation in election observation.
At the 29th edition of the Forum 2000 Conference – Facing the Odds: Democratic Resilience in Action – MEMO 98 and the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) hosted a panel discussion on how elections have become battlegrounds in the global contest between democracy and autocracy.
Moderated by Stefanie Schiffer (EPDE), the session brought together Rasto Kužel (MEMO 98, Slovakia), Beata Martin-Rozumiłowicz (USA/Poland), Nino Dolidze (Georgia), and Mulle Musau (Kenya), who shared lessons from recent elections in Slovakia, Georgia, Moldova, and Kenya.
The discussion reflected a central theme of the Forum 2000 Conference – that democracies must move from reflection to action and build alliances capable of resisting coordinated authoritarian influence.
#Elections as Authoritarian Practice
Elections are meant to embody people’s power to choose their leaders and shape their future. Yet, as several speakers noted, authoritarian actors have learned to use elections as instruments of control. They weaponize information, manipulate media, and restrict civic space while preserving the façade of democracy.
Examples from Georgia and beyond showed how ruling elites neutralize independent observers and journalists, criminalize dissent, and fabricate legitimacy through managed elections. “These regimes maintain the form of democracy while eliminating its substance,” noted one panelist.
#Elections as a Matter of International Stability
The panel emphasized that elections are no longer domestic affairs but have become matters of international security and stability. Authoritarian regimes increasingly coordinate cross-border manipulation, share disinformation playbooks, and deploy fake observers to legitimize flawed processes.
Drawing on MEMO 98’s and EPDE’s experiences, Rasto Kužel pointed out that Moldova’s 2025 elections demonstrated how cooperation between election authorities, cyber units, and civic watchdogs can effectively counter hybrid interference. “This model,” he said, “is a blueprint for a transnational protection framework for elections.”
#Democracies Must Strengthen Alliances
Panelists agreed that democratic actors must match authoritarian coordination with stronger alliances of their own. Building joint protection mechanisms that connect election management bodies, law enforcement, media, civil society, and tech companies is crucial for defending democratic integrity.
This challenge extends to established democracies, where consensus on democratic norms can no longer be assumed to exist. As Beata Martin-Rozumiłowicz warned, “We need safeguards capable of resisting bad-faith actors from within our own systems.”
#Innovating Election Observation
Traditional election observation must evolve to address threats that arise long before election day. The new generation of observers must combine digital forensics, OSINT, and civic-tech tools with field-based monitoring.
Rasťo Kužel outlined how open-source tracking, financial forensics, and rapid public communication helped Moldovan observers expose manipulation attempts, while Czech observers documented algorithmic bias and disinformation in online campaigning. “Observers today must act as defenders of democracy, not just auditors of procedure,” he stressed.
#Holding Big Tech Accountable
Big Tech platforms have become decisive actors in shaping voter behavior. Their opaque algorithms and monetized attention systems have turned digital space into a new front line of electoral integrity.
Speakers called for binding standards, algorithmic audits, and transparency obligations for online political advertising. “Without transparency online, there’s no transparency at the ballot box,” said Kužel. Stronger enforcement of the EU’s Digital Services Act and global cooperation with tech firms were identified as immediate priorities.
#Rebuilding Trust through Civic Education
The panel underscored that the ultimate defense of democracy lies with its citizens. Civic empowerment, digital literacy, and participatory education enable societies to resist manipulation and reclaim ownership of their politics.
Examples from Moldova’s diaspora mobilization, Czechia’s active media ecosystem, and Georgia’s youth-led resistance illustrated that civic engagement can sustain democracy even when institutions falter.
#From Risk to Resilience
Technology is now both a challenge and an opportunity for democracy. While authoritarian regimes exploit it for surveillance and control, democratic societies can use it for transparency, participation, and accountability.
As the Forum 2000 discussions made clear, reclaiming technology for democratic purposes will be central to renewing trust and resilience. “Democracy’s renewal,” concluded the panel, “depends on our ability to act together — smarter, faster, and with greater solidarity.”
