Taipei: Democracy is backsliding globally as growing economic inequality and the disruptive influence of social media erode public trust and undermine free speech, French journalist and author Fr©d©ric Lema®tre said during a talk in Taipei on Saturday.

According to Focus Taiwan, the veteran journalist, who has worked for the French outlet Le Monde for 30 years, emphasized that the world was drifting toward autocracy. He referenced studies by the Swedish organization V-Dem (Varieties of Democracy) indicating that nearly three-quarters of the global population now live under autocratic regimes, marking the highest level since 1978.

Lema®tre, 60, observed that many people in democratic countries were experiencing a sense of "fatigue" with their political systems. He attributed this disillusionment largely to "an unprecedented rise in inequality" over the past three decades. Citing France as an example, he noted that young generations accumulate less wealth through work and more through inheritance, highlighting how economic development had exacerbated injustices.

Lema®tre expressed concern over the growing influence of social media, which, in his view, did not promote free expression or advance democracy but was used to manipulate public opinion and elections. He pointed to billionaire Elon Musk's use of his platform X to support the far-right German party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), during recent elections, elevating the party to "the heart of the debate."

He stressed that democracy involves more than free elections and the separation of powers; it also requires debates and listening among those with differing views. He underscored the importance of respecting the opposition and achieving compromise.

Turning to China, Lema®tre noted that while the country remains a dictatorship with strict censorship, its citizens might feel more satisfied with their political system than others because they enjoy greater freedom and prosperity compared to 40 years ago. He warned that Western democracies should not overestimate their influence on China, as change will only occur "when the Chinese believe their system is worse than another's."

Lema®tre, who served as a correspondent in Beijing from 2018 to 2023, is the author of several books, including "Five Years in Xi Jinping's China" (Cinq ans dans la Chine de Xi Jinping), set to be published in France in January 2024. He arrived in Taiwan in early May for a 40-day residency at the National Human Rights Museum, where he worked on a new book about China and Taiwan.