Written by: Arben Malaj
The message of the Magna Carta of 1225, some 800 years ago, is more relevant today than ever. In essence, when the law is above man, we have justice; when man is above the law, we have only disguised dictatorship. The true leader is the one who leaves the country freer than he found it. Throughout human history, power has often been an intoxicating force, corrupting anyone who falls victim to the greed for absolute, unlimited, and uncontrollable power. The foundations of political civilization are not built on the desire to rule, but on the courage to limit power. Today, as the world faces the rise of leaders who seek absolute power and unlimited mandates, the messages of King Charles III and the example of George Washington serve as an inspiring call to self-awareness about the consequences of our silence.
King Charles III, in his address to the U.S. Congress, referred with almost mystical reverence to the Magna Carta. This reference is not simply a homage to antiquity, but a reaffirmation of the basic contract of civilization: the will of the monarch must be subject to the law of the land. This 800-year-old principle teaches us that the separation, balance, and check of powers is the “anchor” that protects nations from undemocratic systems. If the Magna Carta established legal boundaries, George Washington established moral boundaries that changed the course of history. After victory in the Revolutionary War, Washington had the power to become king or dictator, but he chose to be a humble citizen. When it came time for a third term in 1796, he withdrew with the striking argument: “I could not defeat a king to become king myself.” This integrity served as an unwritten “Moral Boundary” for about 155 years, before becoming written law with the 22nd Amendment in 1951. This is the true model of leadership: knowing that your greatest success is not the power you wield, but the power you hand over. Faced with the negative consequences of autocratic to neo-dictatorial systems, the political vaccine remains civic awakening.
Today, the Balkans and Albania, but also consolidated democracies, are being threatened by “prime ministerial and presidential kingdoms”. Models are being installed where leaders seek to control everything: the courts, the media, the economy and the future itself. Unlike Washington, “modern” autocrats see the law as a means to annihilate opponents and power as private property. But when a leader refuses to leave, he breaks the “Generation Contract”, producing only vicious circles of corruption and civic apathy. When elites are silent, the solution lies in the reawakening of voters. Generation Z and young voters have the power in their hands to restore the universal principles of freedom. The recent case of Hungary, where participation reached up to 80%, is an inspiring reference that any autocrat can be defeated.
Integrity is not an abstract concept; it is the action of the citizen who refuses to sell his vote and demands equal law for all. Timothy Snyder, a distinguished scholar of Yale University, is one of the world's most renowned experts on authoritarianism and the history of East and Central Europe, and in his famous book “On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century” presented a manual for civil resistance in the wake of the political developments of recent years. Three essential elements of this manual include: (i) Do not obey in advance – Snyder argues that much of the power of authoritarianism is given freely by the citizens themselves. People often think in advance what a more oppressive power will require and begin to adapt before it is asked of them. This “pre-obedience” shows the autocratic leader what he can do, paving the way for him to move forward without encountering resistance: (ii) Protect the institutions, Snyder emphasizes that institutions (such as courts, free media, professional associations) cannot protect themselves.
They are like “mirrors” that break the image of a single dictator. Snyder makes it clear that once trust in institutions is lost or when they cease to function independently, the path to tyranny is open. Therefore, citizens must actively support them. (iii) Trust the truth and facts – Snyder warns that to give up facts is to give up freedom. If nothing is true, then no one can criticize the government, because there is no basis on which to base criticism.
When people lose the ability to distinguish truth from propaganda, they become easy prey for leaders who rule through emotions and myths, leading to what he calls "the death of truth," which is the prelude to tyranny.
King Charles III protected this legacy of institutional continuity through his astute diplomacy. When President Trump reminded Europe of its debt to the United States, saying that without the Americans, Europeans would speak German, the King, with elegance and humor, reminded him that without the British victory in the 18th century, Americans today would speak French. In an increasingly uncertain world, respect and cooperation based on shared values are vital. The legacy of Washington and Charles III reminds us that true leadership lies not in holding power, but in creating a system where freedom survives even without the individual at the helm.
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