"Today, democracy is under strain all over the world - democratic backsliding, a loss of citizens' trust in democratic institutions and politicians, war, environmental degradation and economic pressures are all contributing to the erosion of democracy," underlined Gunn Marit Helgesen, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, in a statement today, ahead of International Day of Democracy (15 September).
"All these factors have something important in common - ultimately, they are experienced by people in the communities where they live. Local and regional elected representatives bear the primary responsibility for the health of local democracy - by engaging citizens, and young people in particular, in local governance; by delivering results in response to citizens' needs and expectations; and by leading by example in their commitment to democratic values. Because democratic resilience is built locally, and the signs of democratic decline often appear locally first," said the Congress President.
She pointed out that there was room for optimism: local democracy had made real progress across Europe in recent years, as decentralisation of power was increasingly recognised in national laws, territorial and administrative reforms strengthened local capacities, and citizens were having a greater voice in local decisions.
"As we mark International Day of Democracy, let us remember that democracy is not a given - it is built and renewed constantly from the ground up, together with citizens, and this work is never finished," concluded President Helgesen.
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe is the political assembly representing local and regional governments across the 46 member States, responsible for promoting and monitoring local elections
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
The Council of Europe and Sweden
