NEWSLETTER No. 4

Citizens and local self-management

If we are to believe that "Democracy without citizens is the worst", then we can freely say that on the local management level throughout Pomoravlje Region, the new elected "democrats" have barely done anything so far in order to set different and proper grounds to the government they represent. The process of decision-making on life essential issues within the local community is still not a bit closer to a common citizen, tax payer, that is, to the one with whom everything begins and ends. However, phrases like "We are building a civil society"  or  "Let’s encourage citizens’ involvement" can still occassionally be heard.

Presently, all forms of citizens’ involvement and impact on the work of local self-management come down merely to the occassional act of voting for the municipal government members. In the meantime, which is usually about four years, a little can be said of the possibilities of immediate citizens’ participation in decision-making processes, and  even less is done in order to rouse the local community from its passivity. Municipal referendums, popular initiatives and enthusiastic Local Community Board members are so rare to find that it should not even be mentioned. Of course, all the responsibility for the mentioned situation is equally borne by both local government representatives and citizens themselves. Municipal government members, members of executive boards and other officials of local self-management seem to be forgetting that without creating proper conditions, encouragement and inciting of citizens to a more active participation in the work of local management, a little is left of the local democracy (as a prerequisite of any other kind of democracy).  More precisely, it can be discussed only for form’s sake.

On the other hand, a huge majority of the citizens in Pomoravlje Region, and wider territory as well, rather just lazily wave their hands when asked about important local issues  than tell everyone in the face: "When it comes to my money and life, I would like to have my say about it!". And this is more a matter of culture than a wish of a person to seize power.

Finally, we are left with the question: What can non-governmental organisations do in such conditions?

The fact that a lot of attempts of non-profit sector representatives, aimed at developing and strengthening local democracy, are not a mere waste of time, is partly corroborated by the following examples. The NGO "Alternative Parliament of Citizens", along with several other non-governmental organisations active in Paracin Municipality, has started an initiative for the non-profit sector representatives to obtain a position in the Municipal Parliament, and thus also the possibility to participate in discussions on all life essential issues and local community development, without the right to vote and make desicisions, of course. Besides, a constant non-institutional body is soon to be formed, made up of Paracin non-governmental organisations, local self-management representatives and principal representatives of the Municipal Secretariat of Internal Affairs, the purpose of which will be finding as appropriate as possible solutions to problems of public safety, drug addiction, criminal and the like.

Similar initiatives are being planned, more or less successfully, in other towns throughout Pomoravlje Region as well. This may not sound as a big step ahead, closer to local democracy, but it still is a beginning.

And what is most important, it is a promising beginning.