With the financial support of USAID in the framework of the Strengthening Electoral Processes in Georgia project, implemented by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), the Civic Education Lecturers Association (CELA) continues Democracy Dialogues discussion series, which aims to raise the awareness of students and create discussion space. Under this project, on December 23, discussion on local self-government issues was held at Tbilisi Open University.
The discussion was led by the constitutionalist and the member of the State Constitutional Commission Zurab Jibghashvili and by the lawyer of Transparency International Georgia GiGi Chikhladze. Students and professors of Tbilisi Open University actively participated in the discussion.
The discussion focused on the general as well as on the specific and practical issues. During the meeting the role of the local self-government, its place and importance in the state was discussed. The emphasis was made on the fact that the citizens are not sufficiently aware of this institution and its functions. Very often people are going to the polls and vote for the officials and authorized agencies without even knowing their powers.
The discussion also focused on the last reform of local self-government, its major updates and problematic issues. Students were particularly interested in local government contests. In this regard, it was noted that at the local level there has always been a high level of nepotism. According to the studies of Transparency International Georgia very often local self-governance servants are dismissed or designated on political grounds.
Students were also interested in how can they participate in local self-governance. In this aspect it was noted that they are able to apply to the local authority at any time to regulate issues related on local self-government and make them become more effective. Also they can attend the city council meetings and participate in a different local monitoring and consultative councils’ / initiative groups’ activities.
The video recording of the discussion will be uploaded to the CELA website in the near future. In the frames of this project a number of discussions are planned. You will be able to get further information through the website or Facebook page of CELA.
