"The democracy is tested to its limits in crises. It is then that power needs to be scrutinized the most, not the least. Therefore, it is concerning that proposals granting the state far-reaching and vaguely defined powers are now on their way to being written into the constitution, says John Stauffer, chief legal officer at Civil Rights Defenders. – We see time and again around the world how extraordinary powers introduced in a crisis are used for purposes they were not intended for and that the powers become difficult to revoke when the crisis is over. Therefore, the rules must be clear from the beginning and surrounded by strong oversight mechanisms. Otherwise, temporary exceptions risk gradually becoming the new normal, says John Stauffer. – In a world characterized by democratic retreat and autocratization, we need a constitution that provides protection even when power is held by parties that do not have the same democratic backbone as the one we take for granted, says John Stauffer." #maktmissbruk #demokrati #grundlagsändring (translated)