MonVoteÀMoi, the VoteMatch that helps the French to test their political preference
Should the French president give up his prerogatives on defence and foreign policy? Is a reducement of working hours indispensable to get more jobs? Should immigrants have the right to vote at local elections? Is nuclear energy needed to maintain a clear environment in France? Is it the role of the government to partly finance new mosques?
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GONG celebrated the first ten years of work with ‘Closed Door Day’
On Friday 13 April 2007 it was exactly 10 years since the first attempt was made by GONG to monitor elections. It was unsuccessful, because the Republican Election Commission forbade GONG activists to be present as observers at polling stations. It is tradition now that GONG celebrates that day as its anniversary.
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Politeia partners facilitate the European Citizens Consultations
3 April 2007
Three Politeia member organisations were in February and March quite busy with the organisation of their national consultations of the European Citizens Consultations.
The Centre for Liberal Strategies in Bulgaria, the Partners for Democratic Change in Slovakia and the Dutch Centre for Political Participation are the national partners for the implementation of the unique and ambitious project “European Citizens Consultations”.
On a large agenda setting event in Brussel last year 200 ad random chosen citizens from throughout the EU decided the topics for the national consultations during two days of intensive discussion:
‘Energy and Environment’, ‘Family and Social Policy’, and ‘Immigration and the Role of the EU in the World’ turned out to be the most important issues.
In February and March national consultations were held in 27 EU-member states, where during a weekend groups of representative citizens tried to work out their national vision about the Europe they would like to live in in about 20 years. During these sessions, which were partly taking place at the same time, the participants of the national consultations even got the opportunity to get in touch with national consultations in other countries via Skype.
An impression of the Dutch national consultation will follow, and see the next article of the ‘News’ section for an impression of the Bulgarian discussion on the three European topics.
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The ECC in Bulgaria
29 March 2007
Bulgaria joined the European Citizens’ Consultations upon accession to the EU on January 1, 2007. That is why there were no Bulgarian participants at the ECC Agenda setting event in October 2006. The National Citizens’ Consultation in Bulgaria took place on February 10-11 2007 in Sofia. The event was organized by the Centre for Liberal Strategies and the Alpha Research Agency. The CLS and Alpha Research organized back in 2003 the first deliberative poll in Central and Eastern Europe on organized crime. At present, they are in the final stage of the second deliberative poll in Bulgaria on the situation of the Roma minority (April 13-15 2007). The deliberative dimension of the ECC initiative was of special interest for the organizers.
65 participants with just six weeks of experience as EU citizens discussed for two days the three topics agreed upon by 200 citizens from the EU 25 back in 2006: Energy & Environment; Family & Social Welfare; EU’s Global Role & Immigration.
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