2022, the year of the revenge of democracy

Who would have thought that? Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the governments of the European Union have shown unity and determination to respond to Vladimir Putin’s war, making a decisive contribution to transforming 2022 into the year of revenge for democracies on autocracies and populisms. This was the main novelty of the year: on Russia, on Covid-19 or on economic policy, liberal democracy has been resilient and has shown its superiority in terms of competence and effectiveness. The EU has adopted nine packages of sanctions against Russia and is freeing itself from its dependence on Russian gas (it has imposed an embargo on oil). mRna vaccines have sheltered the European population from the worst consequences of Covid-19 and from the danger of other lockdowns. Inflation is at record levels and a recession is looming, but monetary and fiscal prudence should limit the impact of rising prices and falling GDP. On the part of the EU there may have been hesitations, slowness, contradictions and some divisions. But the goal of protecting its citizens has largely been accomplished, without drama or disruption.