Local Forums for Developing Participatory Democracy LOCAL FORUM CELJE Marjeta Vodončnik

LOCAL FORUM CELJE

Election of Slovenian members of the European Parliament 1st elections in Slovenia: nd elections: 2009 Number of Slovenian seats in the EP: 7 (785)

TURNOUT – European elections

Source: National voting and election committee RS TURNOUT – European elections Elections 2004 Elections 2009 EU45,47 %43,07 % SLOVENIA28,35 %28,37 % CELJE25,45 %26,55 %

JAZVEM survey ( How would you grade presentations of political parties for the European Parliament? Excellent0% Very well6% Well34% Sufficient39% Insufficient21%

JAZVEM survey How well do you know programmes of political parties for the European elections? Very well5% Well35% Not well41% Don’t know at all19%

LOCAL ACTIVITIES

Local activities Goal: to promote European elections among young adults, migrants and other marginal groups in order to boost participation at the elections 2009

Local activities PROBLEM How to attract the young in a society which is in general dissatisfied and is showing no interest whatsoever for the democratic process ? SOLUTION Pick the right time and place !

Local activities Goal To reach as many young people as possible Where In schools, institutions of higher education and on the street

Local activities Info points -to reach the target group directly -9 secondary schools -1 institution of higher education -3 faculties What? Promotion material and informations When? A week before the European elections.

Local activities Booth in the centre of Celje

Local activities - To reach people (in particular young) passing by - In the centre of the city on the most busy street What? Promotion material, information about the project, European Parliament, European elections and candidates. When? Last week before the European elections.

Local activities Presentation of European elections to marginal groups - Society of deaf and hard to hear Celje - Shelter for homeless people - Safe house - Maternity house To present the role of the European Parliament and European elections to those marginal groups who are less likely to vote and who are less likely to get information they need in order to make a decision on why and who to vote.

Tools * Promotion material (own, given by political parties and their candidates, Information office of the EP in Slovenia) * Media (advertisements) * Project’s web-site

After activities Animations and presentations of the European Union, European Parliament and, the elections at secondary schools

After activities Promotion of LFDPD project at local event

Key conclusions

Were we successful ? Good question! It is hard to say. Comparing participation at the EE in 2004 and 2009 it shows that participation in 2009 increased for 1,1 percent at a local level. Is this our success?

Could we do better ? Certainly ! No question about it, but how? Include more people in particular young adults to communicate, to inform and invite among themselves. Organization of bigger and targeted events where lots of young gather. More active promotion and advertising. These things are all costs related, which could increase significantly.

Suggestions It is a long term work that could last up to decades. Suggestion for Local Forums: To continue with the work after the project ends. Suggestion for political parties: Time to work on their rising generation – attract new, young faces with whom young adults can identify themselves.

What next ? LOCAL ELECTIONS autumn 2010

Sources National voting and elections committee of the Republic of Slovenia Jazvem survey

Thank you for your attention JAVNI ZAVOD SOCIO Kocenova ulica 8, 3000 Celje Slovenia Suzi Kvas, Directress Phone: Fax: