Athens, Greece. President Nikos Christodoulides said on Wednesday that measures to encourage greater participation and dialogue are crucial to ensuring that citizens feel included and represented. He said democracy is not in decline but is being tested by pressure on institutions, new technologies and changing forms of communication.
Democracy under pressure
Speaking during a roundtable discussion on the current state of democracy at a meeting organised by the Economist magazine, Christodoulides said institutions are being questioned and that new technologies and new ways of communication are drastically changing public debate and the relationship between citizens and politicians.
He said these developments create the impression that politics are not adapting quickly enough to the concerns of citizens and described this as perhaps the most important challenge facing democracies today.
Measures to increase inclusion
Christodoulides referred to several government initiatives aimed at increasing the inclusion of citizens and strengthening their representation in decision-making processes.
He mentioned the institutionalisation of the citizens legislative initiative, through which citizens acquire the right to shape policies by collecting 5,000 signatures. He also referred to the automatic registration of all eligible voters aged 17 on the electoral roll and to online services such as the Ekfracy platform, which gives young people the opportunity to submit proposals and suggestions.
EU Council presidency and institutions
The president also referred to Cyprus’ recently completed presidency of the EU Council, saying it had set the goal of bringing the bloc closer to its citizens and providing answers to the real problems of societies.
He said there is a direct link between the quality of democracy and the ability of institutions to adapt, listen and provide solutions.
Digital age challenge
Christodoulides said the biggest challenge ahead is to ensure that democracy does not only follow developments in the digital age but also adapts and utilises their potential.
