Biden calls on leaders to end ‘backward slide’ of democracy

By AAMER MADHANI and COLLEEN LONG
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has expressed alarm about a “backward slide” of democracy around the globe at a virtual Summit for Democracy. On Thursday, he called on fellow world leaders at the video summit to work with him to bolster democratic institutions as his administration grows increasingly concerned about China’s and Russia’s push for global influence. The other leaders highlighted a host of challenges confronting democracies, including corruption, inequality, limitations on press freedom and more. They also expressed increasing worry about strengthening autocracies and the perils disinformation. Biden underscored that even long established democracies, like the United States, haven’t been immune to the strains.