democracy and citizens participation - a priority in botkyrka
TRANSCRIPT
Presentation – IIeP workshop 2011-11-02
Ahmad Azizi
Democracy Development Manager
Chief Executive`s Department
Botkyrka municipality
Tel: 08-530 614 36
SMS: 070 733 80 78 72
www.botkyrka.se
Democracy and citizens participation - a priority in
Botkyrka
Botkyrka
Population: 84.000 residents
One of Sweden`s youngest
population – middle age 36,9 year
Sweden`s most international
Municipality –Cosmopolitan- population –
half of the residents have a non-Swedish background
Six parts of the municipality - Alby, Fittja,
Hallunda/Norsborg in north, Tullinge, Tumba, Vårsta/Grödinge in south.
Municipality Council
Vård- och omsorgs-
Departement
Municipality Executive Chief Executive's
Department
Klimat & Planerings-
beredning
Demokratiberedning
(preparation)
Arbete- och närings-
livsberedningen
Vård- och omsorgs-
board
Kultur- och fritids-
board
Kultur- och fritids-
Department
Election's board Chief Executive's
Department
Samhällsbyggnads-
Department
Miljö- och hälso-
Skydds board
Arbetsmarknad och
Vuxenutb Department. Arbetsmarknad och
vuxenutbildnngs board
Utbildnings Department Utbildnings board
Teknisk board
Service Department
Social board Social Department Samhällsbyggnads board
Revisorer
Personalutskott
Dialogforum
Distribution of seats 2011-2014
61 seats in the Municipal
Council
The Social Democrats 24
The Left Party 4
The Green Party 4
The Conservative Party 13
The Liberal Party 3
The Christian Democrats 2
Botkyrkaparty 2
Tullingeparty 6
Sweden democrats 3
The aim of developing democracy and participation:
• to make politics more interesting and vibrant for the citizens
• to stimulate the democratic dialogue.
• to make it more easy for all groups in society to use their democratic right to influence the development.
• to support those already engaged, and create new possibilities for those who are not represented.
Challenges
• The Citizens ability to participate in the democratic process is depending of the development in society.
• Less and less Citizens are active in politics/democracy/political parties.
•The possibilities and prerequisites for the citizen's to practice ones democratic rights are not equal.
Possibilities for local democracy?
•The representative democracy:
-Support to politicians
- Increase the number of voters
Participation in elections in Botkyrka
Eligable votes Number of
votes
Participation
%
+/-
Botkyrka 52 962 41 737 78,81 2,7
N. Botkyrka 23 004 16 291 70,82 2,3
S. Botkyrka 29 958 25 446 84,92 2,8
Parliament election 2010
Eligable Actual votes participation
%
Dif. -/+
Botkyrka 60 003 43 680 72,8 1.8
N. Botkyrka 27 725 17 626 63,6 1,0
S. Botkyrka 32 278 26 054 80,7 2,3
Local election 2010
Campaign for the election 2010
Means:
-General information about the election
-Social media: www.botkyrkasroster.se
-Direct communication
-Campaigns in collaboration with the citizens
-Activities in schools
-Special efforts on special groups like first time voters
-Using of divers language
-Society informants
Purpose:
-Strengthen the participation of the citizens and ability to influence the democratic process and increase the number of votes.
Samhällsinformatör (society informants) as a support in
the municipal efforts for an increased participation
in the elections.
1. Support communication between the municipal organization and the citizens.
2. Discussion with the citizens about the importance to give your vote.
3. Engage associations and schools in joint activities with the municipality.
Participatory democracy?
• Submit Citizen proposals - Every citizen has the right to make suggestions to
Municipality Council
• Youth Council- - Represents from intermediate school, high school, and
another young 12-22 years.
• Dialogue Forum
- Forum for meeting between citizens and politicians
- Officers role: the professionally and the practically support to politicians
• Citizens Panel- an internet-based panel
• Research circles
- Citizens, researcher, politicians and officers
• Digidel campaign - A campaign for those who do not use computer/internet
Possibilities to influence the local democracy