Challenges of local Direct Democracy in Albania after the administr Challenges of local Direct Democracy in Albania after the administr.-territor.Reform by Andreas Gross (Switzerland) (Political Scientist/ Dr h.c.; Lecturer and Director Atelier for Direct Democracy St-Ursanne, 24 years Swiss MP/ 2008-2016: Leader of the Social Democrats in the PACE Strasburg) Info@andigross.ch www.andigross.ch Presentation for the Seminar “Citizen’s Participation and Direct Democracy” org. by KRIIK Albania and CDO, Tirana, February 3rd 2017
The momentum would be here A decentralization effort has been started, both territorially and administratively A new local and regional self-government system is developed The new 61 municipalities (before 350) have more and new duties, competences and financial resources New laws for “Public. Consult”(2014) and “Right to information”(2014)
The time for building a new local democracy with direct-democratic elements has come Direct Election of the Mayor Election of the Munic’council (MCC) Agreement on a Municipal-charta, incl: Citizen-Motion to the MCC (100 sign) Citizen-Initiatives (1%), brought to a municipal Referendum incl.Counterprop. of MCC Municipality-parts (Tirana:Quarteers)-Motions
Advantages of such a new participatorial Municpal DD Citizens start to get to know their new municipality and build up a identification The new Major and the MCC get more legitimacy Citizen learn about the problems and how to solve them (ecological, social, urban development) Citizens start to build up a sense of ownership
Challenges/Questions Do you need to change for this the national referendum-law and separate it also from the electoral law ? Would a amendment to the local administrative law allowing a DD-framework to the municipalities be enough ? Should a new national law for cornerstones of the municipal DD be drafted May a municipality go on, evt. on a advisory logic “The design determines the quality”