Artikel verfasst von
Anna Proskurina
Communication officer
Haftungsausschluss: Dieser Text wurde automatisch übersetzt und kann Ungenauigkeiten enthalten.
Dear friends, partners and supporters of Democracy International,
We invite you to join us for this recollection of the 2023 journey of Democracy International. Let’s take a tour guided by this
year’s developments around direct democracy and citizen participation, that are behind each one of our projects. Among the many tangible threats to democracy, we witness a creeping fragility of trust. How is it possible to trust in democratic systems in an increasingly autocratic world? The rise of populism, such as in Slovakia and the Netherlands, ongoing and unfolding conflicts, and misinformation pervading political campaigns, including the one for the Voice to Parliament in Australia, generate more and more frustration and distrust. With authorities instrumentalising votes to serve their cause instead of the people’s, citizens find it easier to ignore the voting process. The plebiscite shadowing the elections in Poland is living proof of it, even though in Poland citizens managed to resist this referendum attempt. All these obstacles signal the need for improvement of democracy.
We also truly believe that reinstating and strengthening trust in the democratic system and its institutions would return many on the tumultuous yet rewarding road to a democratic future. And this can only be achieved by democracy itself. That is why every effort of every citizen matters, especially when it reinforces trust in democracy and people‘s power.
The Yasuni referendum in Ecuador is a true celebration of the democratic process. Not only did it take place after a ten-year-
long battle of activists, but the majority of the population voted to end oil extraction from the national park - for the good of the planet. This first referendum sets a precedent for our planet.
Even more, it shows the power of peoples’ trust and hope in the democratic process. While the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) still has to grow into becoming the direct democratic tool that Democracy International anticipates, the European Parliament’s vision for ECI reform is a bold and hopeful sign.
The upcoming 2024 year will be one of an unprecedented number of elections around the world. More people than ever before in history will go to the polls. It is also the year of the European elections. This momentum will shape the fate of the world in the near future. Consequently, working on our core missions will remain crucial: Learning from each other and exchanging experiences to shape better democracies. Supporting activists and building strong organisations that lead people on their journey towards trust in democracy. Helping build strong democratic institutions and instruments on a national and transnational scale. Based on these values we will surely continue our work in 2024.
At Democracy International, we are committed to strengthening the trust in democratic processes and elections in Europe and beyond. We are paying close attention to the upcoming United Nations Summit of the Future as an opportunity to empower citizens worldwide, as well as to highlight the potential that citizen-led solutions like the UN World Citizens’ Initiative bear at the global level. And we are constantly working to make these a reality.
Wherever in the world you are reading these lines, it is our great honour to walk this road towards a more democratic future with you in 2023 and the years to come. Thank you for your trust!
The Democracy International team