Citizen participation: an essential tool in local democracy
Chisinau, 16 November 2016
Antonella Valmorbida,
Secretary General of ALDA The European Association for Local Democracy
Local Democracy is essentially not a legislative and institutional process. It has its anchorage in local elections, decentralisation processes and public administration reform, of course, but it must be accompanied with a full understanding and involvement of citizens that will experience the laws and these structural process and who will be able to use them and be engaged. Without participative and aware citizens, laws and structure are useless boxes and non-realistic instruments. For this reason, our efforts in building good institutional frameworks, must include, since the very beginning awareness raising and capacities within both the elected bodies and administration and civil society group and citizens. Improvements of local and national situation will be the results of this joint work. […]