Greater citizen participation, dialogue and accountability are the answer to growing public concerns that voices are not being heard and decisions are being taken away from citizens, President Nikos Christodoulides said.
Speaking via video conference at a roundtable discussion organised by The Economist in Athens, titled “Is Democracy in Decline or Experiencing a Crisis of Adaptation to the Unprecedented Changes of the Digital Age?”, Christodoulides outlined government policies aimed at strengthening participatory democracy.
New participation measures
The President referred to several initiatives, including the introduction of a “Citizens’ Legislative Initiative”, allowing citizens to help shape policies after collecting 5,000 signatures.
He also highlighted the reduction of the eligibility age for election candidates to 21, as well as the automatic registration of all citizens reaching the age of 17 on electoral rolls, giving them the right to vote.
Christodoulides said these measures support digital democracy and create more opportunities for citizens to participate in decision-making.
Digital tools for public engagement
The President also referred to digital platforms designed to increase public involvement, including:
- The e-consultation platform for public consultations.
- “Citizen’s Voice” for advisory votes.
- The “Ekfracy” platform, which gives young people a space to submit proposals and ideas.
- The diakivernisi.gov.cy platform, allowing citizens to monitor the progress of government actions and policies.
Democracy facing new challenges
“I do not believe democracy is in decline, but we cannot ignore that it is being tested,” Christodoulides said.
He explained that democracy faces challenges from declining trust in institutions, new technologies and changing forms of communication that have transformed public debate and the relationship between citizens and politics.
He added that one of the biggest challenges is the growing feeling among citizens that politics is not adapting quickly enough to their concerns and the changes affecting their daily lives.
Digital era offers new opportunities
Christodoulides also referred to the successful completion of Cyprus’ Presidency of the Council of the European Union, saying it aimed to bring the Union closer to citizens and better understand their concerns.
“There is a direct connection between the quality of democracy and the ability of institutions to adapt, listen and provide solutions,” he said.
The President stressed that the challenge ahead is ensuring democracy does not simply follow developments in the digital age but adapts and uses new opportunities.
He concluded that despite the risks created by new technologies, the digital era provides new tools for direct communication and meaningful participation.
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