5 Questions of Power

The late Tony Benn set out five questions about power. In his final speech to the House of Commons he said that on meeting any powerful person, one should always ask:

• What power have you got?
• Where did you get it from?
• In whose interests do you exercise it?
• To whom are you accountable?
• And how can we get rid of you?

If you cannot get rid of the people who govern you, you do not live in a democratic system.

In a general election yesterday, the electorate of Hungary got rid of Viktor Orbán. It was an overwhelming defeat, and an overwhelming victory for his anti-corruption opponent Péter Magyar.

— The Empty City, How can we get rid of you?