The COVID-19 pandemic caused a severe strain on health systems globally, while simultaneously presenting a social, economic, legal, political, and regulatory challenge. Where the efficacy of pandemic laws adopted by governments are a matter of life and death, the urgency with which action needs to be taken during a pandemic creates a law-making environment which incentivises rapid action without scrutiny and the use of power without restraint. Under such conditions, adherence to the foundational values of democracy and the rule of law come under increased pressure if not threat. The demands of emergency provide a convenient guise and means of justification for the use of power which only serves to consolidate power within the executive to the detriment of the separation of powers and weakening of the institutions of liberal democracy. This article provides a preliminary analysis on how the global health crisis has affected the state of democracy and the rule of law. While the specific examples are drawn from across the globe to highlight common trends and concerns, specific highlight is given to the EU and its Member States. It offers an outlook on how to prepare for future emergencies by building on the lessons of the current one.

COVID-19 大流行给全球卫生系统造成了严重压力，同时也带来了社会、经济、法律、政治和监管方面的挑战。在政府通过的大流行病法律的效力事关生死的情况下，在大流行期间需要采取行动的紧迫性创造了一种立法环境，鼓励在没有审查的情况下迅速采取行动，并在没有限制的情况下使用权力。在这种情况下，坚持民主和法治的基本价值观即使不是威胁，也会面临越来越大的压力。紧急状态的要求为使用权力提供了方便的幌子和正当理由，这只会巩固行政内部的权力，从而损害分权和削弱自由民主制度。本文对全球健康危机如何影响民主和法治状况进行了初步分析。虽然具体示例来自全球，以突出共同趋势和关注点，但特别强调欧盟及其成员国。它提供了如何通过借鉴当前的经验教训为未来的紧急情况做准备的前景。