The Deputy Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, Ardian Gola, delivered a keynote address today, May 4, 2026, at the Conference of Speakers of European Union Parliaments.
Speaking during a panel titled “Democratic Resilience in Times of Change,” Gola addressed the rising threats of disinformation, rapid technological shifts, and the global decline in institutional trust.
The Philosophy of Legitimacy
Drawing on the work of German philosopher Jürgen Habermas, Gola argued that democratic legitimacy is not sustained by structures alone, but by the “quality of public reasoning.”
“For us as parliamentary leaders, resilience is not just about protecting structures, but about cultivating a political culture where arguments prevail over manipulation and where citizens see themselves reflected in the decisions made in their name,” Gola stated.
Regional Challenges and Reforms
Gola acknowledged that the Western Balkans face intense shared pressures, specifically citing how disinformation and tech developments directly impact the legitimacy of representative democracy. He framed Kosovo’s ongoing domestic reforms—particularly in the judiciary, media freedom, and public administration—not as mere formalities, but as a “fundamental transformation” necessary for survival in a modern political landscape.
The European Destination
A central theme of Gola’s speech was the inextricable link between Kosovo’s internal democratic health and its integration into the European Union. He emphasized that for Kosovo, European path is the ultimate guarantee of sustained democratic resilience.
Concluding with a nod to the host city’s intellectual heritage, Gola cited Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard: “Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.” He noted that democratic resilience is ultimately a matter of choice—the choice to remain faithful to core principles even under difficult circumstances.
