Citizens' Assemblies in Montenegro -European Parliament
- jonmoskovic
- Dec 11, 2024
- 1 min read
Updated: Aug 2
Design - Strategy - Training - Conference - Advocacy
The Citizens' Assemblies in Montenegro were part of a deliberative democracy initiative aimed at involving ordinary citizens in the decision-making process for the fight against corruption in the country. The assemblies were organized as a mechanism for improving the democratic process by giving citizens a more direct role in shaping laws and policies.
These citizens' assemblies, held in 2021 and 2022, was part of Montenegro’s broader efforts to modernize and democratize its political system. The idea behind the assembly was to create a more inclusive and participatory process for governance, allowing citizens to engage in a structured deliberation on key issues affecting the country's future.
Key aspects - Citizens' Assemblies of Montenegro
Deliberative Process: Citizens were selected randomly to participate in discussions. The aim was to ensure diverse representation and bring together different perspectives from across society.
Recommendations for Reform: The assemblies' role was to deliberate and issue recommendations for potential reforms, which would then be considered by the government and parliament.
Strengthening Democracy: The assembly was seen as an effort to strengthen democratic practices by fostering citizen involvement, addressing public concerns, and enhancing transparency in decision-making.
In essence, the Montenegrin Citizens' Assemblies were part of a broader trend of incorporating deliberative democracy models into decision-making processes in the Western Balkans, seeking to increase the quality of the decisions, enhance democratic legitimacy, and citizen trust in the political system.
