01 May, 2023
Balancing the need to restart the economy severely devastated by lockdowns or other restrictions with the necessity of containing the virus and protecting public health is at the core of the so-called “Pandemic Dilemma”. Should countries risk reopening the economy even with the threat of the second wave of virus outbreaks? On the other hand, if the virus is here to stay (absence a vaccine), should countries start adapting to this “new normal” by ensuring that their economy is still functioning? These are some of the questions that the webinar, “The Pandemic Dilemma: Recession or Contagion?”, attempts to answer.
Organised by the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), in close cooperation with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party and Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) Korea Office, the webinar hopes to address the following specific questions:
- What considerations should countries take into account to prevent a second wave of coronavirus outbreak as they reopen their economy?
- Is having a “snap-back mechanism” going to be a common feature of country response to the pandemic dilemma?
- What is the value of the so-called “herd immunity”, as observed by Sweden, in crafting coronavirus response?
The Pandemic Dilemma: Recession or Contagion?
Tuesday 2 June
11.00-12.15 (CEST)
Opening remarks:
Abhisit Vejjajiva, Former chair of CALD, former Prime Minister of Thailand
Hans van Baalen, ALDE Party President
Christian Taaks, Head of FNF Korea
Speakers:
Cho Jung-hoon, Member of the National Assembly, South Korea
Abir Al-Sahlani, Member of European Parliament, Sweden
Karl-Heinz Paque, Chairman of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, Germany
Followed by Q&A session, moderated by:
Emily Lau, Former Member of Hong Kong Legislative Council, CALD Individual Member
