Make formal democracy not enough

The European Union must go beyond simply requiring member states to uphold democratic principles in theory; it needs to actively ensure their practice. A robust mechanism should be established to monitor, protect, and enforce democratic standards across all member states.

This mechanism would involve stringent measures to detect and combat systemic political corruption, safeguarding the integrity of democratic institutions and processes.

Take, for example, the Koldo case in Spain—one of many instances that underscore the urgent need for stronger anti-corruption safeguards within the EU. Cases like these span the entire political spectrum, demonstrating that corruption is not a partisan issue but a systemic one that requires decisive action. More member states are in a similar situation.

Effective accelerationism in Europe requires shedding the heavy burden of corruption as a fundamental precondition.