Berset Warns of Democratic Regression in Europe

Democracy is not merely stalling; it is actively sliding backward. This is the stark, unvarnished warning from Alain Berset, the former Swiss government minister who took the helm as Secretary General of the Council of Europe this past September. In a candid assessment that shatters diplomatic niceties, Berset declared that the political movement across the continent is "not going in the right direction."

The regression is tangible. From polarization to the incitement of hatred in political discourse, the pillars of free society are fracturing under pressure. Berset emphasizes that while the starting points and extents vary by nation, the trajectory is undeniably alarming. This is not a theoretical drill. The organization, founded in 1949 to champion human rights and the rule of law, now confronts a landscape where these very ideals are being dismantled. Berset’s message is clear: the era of assuming democracy is self-sustaining is over. Immediate, robust reinforcement is required to halt this dangerous descent.

For over 15 years, a relentless series of crises has battered the foundations of European stability. Berset identifies a timeline of turmoil that began with the financial collapse of 2008, an event that shattered wealth distribution and sowed the seeds of discontent. This economic shockwave was merely the opening salvo. Since then, the continent has grappled with the explosive rise of populism, the unregulated power of social networks, and the disruptive arrival of artificial intelligence.

Adding fuel to the fire, the COVID-19 pandemic stretched societal bonds to their breaking point. However, the most critical blow has been geopolitical. Berset points to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine—simmering since 2014 and erupting into full-scale war in 2022—as a definitive accelerator of democratic decay. These are not isolated incidents but "divergent forces" working in concert to challenge freedom through manipulation, intimidation, and attacks on the press. The stability of the past is gone; volatility is the new status quo.

In the face of this erosion, passivity is not an option. Berset has launched a bold counter-offensive: a comprehensive action plan to "rethink democracy." This initiative rejects the notion of lecturing nations from a pedestal. Instead, it aims to strengthen the fundamental conditions that allow democracy to function, regardless of local context.

The Council of Europe is proving its worth not in times of peace, but in the trenches of crisis. "It is not when things are going well that we need institutions that work, but on the contrary: when times are difficult," Berset asserts. The necessity of the Council is absolute. Without a vibrant diversity of opinion and the ability to debate across divides, democracy dies. Berset’s strategy focuses on rebuilding the capacity for respectful disagreement and protecting the institutions that safeguard it. The goal is to turn the tide against polarization and restore resilience to governance structures that are currently buckling under strain.

Switzerland sits at the center of this storm, occupying a unique and sometimes controversial position. Berset admits that the Swiss experience—marked by consensus, direct democracy, and stability—can alienate those facing existential threats. He reveals that critics have bluntly told him: "You Swiss are privileged. You don’t know what a real crisis is."

Yet, the distance is deceptive. While Switzerland is not in the EU, the shockwaves of European instability land directly on Berset's desk every morning. From the post-election chaos in Georgia to the devastation in Ukraine, these "theoretical" issues have concrete impacts on the continent's core. The landmark climate ruling by the European Court of Human Rights against Switzerland serves as a potent reminder: no nation is an island. The Council of Europe is not superficial, and Switzerland’s "privileged" status offers no immunity against the shifting tides of geopolitics and human rights law. Berset leverages his Swiss background of collegiality to navigate these waters, but he acknowledges that the gap between Swiss stability and European crisis is a chasm that must be bridged with empathy and action.