Engaging democracy stakeholders for better laws in Italy
Italy's minister for direct democracy, Riccardo Fraccaro, says he looks to Switzerland for inspiration about how to improve citizen participation.
In this video message ahead of the 2018 Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy in Rome, Fraccaro explains why he thinks Italy should abolish turnout quotas for public votes.
“How can we make our cities more global and democratic at the same time?” is the theme of the 2018 Global Forum on Modern Direct DemocracyExternal link, attended by an estimated 400 participants from around the world in Rome between September 26-29.
In a series of plenary sessions and workshops, scientists, politicians, representatives of government administrations, NGOs and civil society will discuss and exchange ideas about boosting citizens’ participation in local politics and the role cities play in promoting democracy at a global level.
The forum is expected to adopt a declaration, a Magna Carta for the International League of Democratic Cities. The charter aims to boost cooperation, helping each other to increase democracy and efficiency.
swissinfo.ch is a platform in ten languages with a special dossier called #DearDemocracy dedicated to direct democracy issues.
As media partner of the Forum, swissinfo.ch journalists will report on the conference and write blog entries as well as posting contributions on Facebook and TwitterExternal link using the hashtag #globfor18.
Our readers are welcome to join in the discussion by sending their contributions and comments.
Translated from Italian by Terence MacNamee
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