Athens, 29 January 2021

Role of parliaments in addressing pandemic main item of 46th Plenary of Parliamentary Assembly of Francophonie

The work of the 46th Plenary of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie (APF) was concluded. It convened for the first time via teleconference on the 28th and 29th of January 2021 with the participation of ca. 350 representatives from 46 member states. The Hellenic Parliament was represented by MP Paraskevi Vryzidou. 

The main topic of discussion was “Francophone parliaments facing the pandemic, prospects for the future”.

After the new composition of the Assembly's Bureau was approved, there was an exchange of views between the participants and the Secretary General of the International Organisation of the Francophonie, Mrs. Louise Mushikiwabo, on the political priorities of the Francophonie, such as strengthening democratic systems, the need to register all births, the need for education, the problems and the prospects of the young, gender equality and linguistic diversity. 

The Greek MP referred to the phenomenon of the rise of populism in recent years in many countries of the West and addressed the question to the SG of the Francophonie whether parliamentary liberal democracy is in danger and how the rise of populism may be tackled and what are the causes behind it. During her intervention in the main discussion, Mrs. Vryzidou, after referring with gratitude to doctors and medical staff around the world for their ongoing battle, underlined the importance of the role of parliaments, which continued to function and scrutinize governmental decisions in the midst of a crisis and when the need to take emergency measures to address the pandemic was high. 

The participating MPs approved the membership applications of the Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU) and the local Parliament of the Wallis and Futuna islands, bringing the number of APF member parliaments to 90. 

The MPs approved 10 resolutions on the fair distribution of Covid-19 vaccines to all, strengthening public health systems, educational systems and their functioning in a crisis, the political situation in Burundi and the Central African Republic, freedom of the Press in francophone regions, the fight against cyber violence against women and children, global warming and food waste. 

The work was concluded with the presentation of the action reports by continent, the ratification of the decisions made and the announcement of the next Session, in July 2022 in Quebec, Canada.

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