Friday, 21 September 2012, Strasbourg
Adress of the president Veljanoski at the second session: Is representative democracy in crisis? Challenges for national parliaments
Even though the democracy is, so far, one of most optimal and comprehended manners of organization of the political community, it is undoubtedly a dynamic process that requires permanent development. In the same time, the democracy has its absurd and weaknesses create possibility and space for some dilemmas, confusion, nourishment of the conspiracy theory and antidemocratic forces and aims, which is evident in European countries and in the world.
From all political orders, the democracy is the least trusted, since every other order forbids and punishes the expression of political mistrust and punish. The essence of the democracy is hidden in the participation, competence and competitiveness in the election of political representatives, but also in their responsibility before the electorate. With all its virtues, it is incomparably better than the nondemocratic political order. One of the significant proofs is the fact that today, individuals, groups, organizations and states are presenting themselves as more democratic.
If we recall the definition of Abraham Lincoln on democracy saying that it is “rule of the people, from the people and for the people”, which in conditions of parliamentary democracy will mean “rule of national representatives”, but harmonized with the will of the people, we are reaching the essence of the idea for democracy, the right of deciding who will govern them belongs to the citizens. In this context, citizens believe in democracy and expect their representatives to fulfill their expectations.
But, as mush as one tends to choose the most appropriate approach, act positively and gain only benefit from practicing democracy, it, similar to any other process, has its weaknesses and needs permanent of continuous promotion and upgrade. In this tendency for optimal positive benefit, there have been debatable, and also conflicting moments and issues, on which, naturally, in the state of democracy there are different views and interpretations. There are critics, who do not debate on the primacy of the democracy as the best political system of the modern life, but locate and define crisis in the process of practicing thereof, and inter alia, they determine cause of the crisis to be the economic and social crisis, as well as forcing the party interests alone.
In this context we should all hear every remark in direction of preservation of the advantages from this manner of organization of the political community, in order for this community to remain on the path of fulfilling the citizens’ expectations and interests. This dedication is more than needed for the success in the accomplishment of the expectations and interests of the citizens. There must be respective level of fruitful political dialogue, and this level must be preserved: with a tendency of building true, not artificial parliamentary debate.
The last century was marked with wariness from the fall of the parliamentary functions, which occurred, above all because of the strengthening of the executive governance and birocracy. The opposite concept of the oversized parliament which can bring us into political dead-end is not being proved as a healthy alternative. Nevertheless, this decreasing function of the parliaments, of their power and status became evident, especially with the increased function of the party and stakeholders’ interests, including the organizational weaknesses of the very parliaments.
Anyhow, functional parliament means key selectiveness, in other words, paying appropriate attention on the topics that deserve this attention, without suppression of the important issues under the marginalized, imaginary and populist issues. The interest of the citizens should be the key motive of every debate.
In this manner the goal will be achieved and the consequences of the crisis would be avoided or at least minimized. And the crisis appears in different shapes: as disappointment, abstinence, boycott or similar expression of dissatisfaction from the social processes. These occurrences are conditioned by the pressure of the lack of perspectives or trust in the institutions and result in non-recognition for the institutions, and finally social dysfunction and disintegration.
The existential moment of the citizens, in other words the economic and the social interest of every individual in a society must be and remain primacy on the agenda of the parliaments instead the interparty conflicts and arguments, the interests of the individuals and parties.
Thank you