"Participatory Democracy" Discussions

"Political Dialogue" organization implements the “Participatory democracy in action” project in collaboration with “Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center Armenia (TIAC)” and "Martuni Women’s Community Council" with the financial support of the European Union.

Within the Project, the first public discussion was held on May 17, 2021. During the discussion, the possible developments of the election process, threats of holding competitive, peaceful, and transparent elections as well as the possible ways of their prevention were discussed. Representatives of the diplomatic missions accredited in the Republic of Armenia, the legislature, political circles, civil society, and the expert community were present at the discussion. Jan Plesinger, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation, and Avnik Melikyan- cofounder of the “Political Dialogue” organization opened the dialogue event. 

On July 30, 2021, "The CSO challenges and priorities after the election in Armenia” discussion was a platform of exchanging thoughts on the possible ways of cooperation among ruling power, opposition, and international partners. The participants of the discussion were representatives of different CSOs, who considered a range of issues on boosting internal dialogue in civil society and post-electoral processes.

On September 24, 2021, a discussion on the topic of "The potential challenges and priorities of community consolidation process” was held in Martuni. During the discussion, the problems regarding the proportional elections of local authorities and community consolidation were represented and considered. 

The objectives of the discussion were the following: 

• To increase awareness of citizens and civil society organizations on the consolidation process as well as on the existing risks and institutional opportunities.
• To identify the expectations and concerns of community actors, to define suggestions on the effective organization of the consolidation process,

The representatives of the Provincial administration, CSOs, local authorities, and media were the participants of the discussion. 

On October 5, 2021, within the framework of the "Participatory democracy in action” project, a regional discussion entitled "Potential opportunities and challenges of community consolidation process" was held in the Ararat region. The discussion aimed to identify the citizens’ viewpoints about institutional opportunities and risks of community consolidation as well as pinpoint the concerns and lessons learned from the steps already taken.

Vahan Movsisyan, chairperson of "Union of Community Financials,” joined the meeting remotely. As a field expert, he answered concerning questions citing international experience and various research. The participants of the discussion: representatives of various civil society organizations and local authorities, viewed the consolidation process along with its challenges and positive consequences, summarizing their opinions related to the discussed topic.

On October 28, 2021, “Martuni Women’s Community Council” organized a discussion on “The Impact of Local Government Elections under the New Electoral System on Community Development: Potential Opportunities and Challenges” in the Gegharkunik region. During the discussion, the problems of local elections under the proportional electoral system were represented. The ways of cooperating with political parties/alliances participating in the local elections and electoral commissions under the new electoral system were also discussed. The participants of the discussion were representatives of the Regional electoral commission, parties, and civil society organizations.

On November 16, a discussion on “The decentralization resulted from the consolidation process and the need of making reforms at the regional level of state administration” was held in Yerevan. As a result, the ways of effective decentralization and bases of establishing cooperative relationships among communities were represented. The representatives of state and regional administration bodies, political parties, civil society organizations, and experts have participated in this discussion.

On February 25 a public discussion “The Municipal Consolidation Process in Gegharkunik region: The process, changes and issues of Consolidation” took place in Gavar in the framework of “Participatory democracy in action” project․ The discussion aims at identifying the changes and difficulties resulting from consolidation as well as expectations and concerns of community actors, formulating recommendations for effective organization of the consolidated communities’ management process. Representatives of Gegharkunik marz administration, CSOs, local authorities and active citizens were present at the discussion.

To identify the social, political, and administrative problems derived from the consolidation process and receive viable suggestions which are applicable for the strategic planning, a public discussion on the “Community consolidation in the Ararat region: the process, changes, and problems” was held on March 2, 2022, in Artashat, Ararat region. The participants of discussion were the representatives of local government bodies, civil society, expert groups, as well as ethnic and religious minorities.

• Summing up the results of the discussion, the following consolidation related issues were considered:
• Inadequate capacities of communities, gaps in relevant laws as an obstacle to new powers realization,
• The regulation of state and local authority relations, perception of self-government as a more independent body,
• Improvement of pastures and their management within the framework of consolidation,
• The concerns of preserving the identity of ethnic and religious minorities within the framework of consolidation,
• Unemployment derived from the consolidation process.