Athens: "The greater participation of citizens, dialogue and accountability are the answer to the growing sense among citizens that their voice is not heard and that decisions are taken far from them," stated President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides during a videoconference at a roundtable discussion organized by 'The Economist' magazine in Athens. The discussion revolved around the theme "Democracy in decline or in a crisis?"
According to Cyprus News Agency, President Christodoulides highlighted several policies implemented by the Cypriot government to foster a more participatory democracy. These include the "Legislative Initiative of Citizens," which allows citizens to influence policy with 5,000 signatures, lowering the eligibility age for election to 21, and automatically registering citizens who turn 17 to vote.
He also mentioned various digital tools aimed at amplifying citizens' voices in decision-making processes. These tools include e-consultation for public consultations, the "Voice of the Citizen" for advisory votes, the "Ekfrasi" platform for youth proposals, and the online platform diakivernisi.gov.cy, which allows citizens to track the progress of government actions and policies.
"I do not believe that Democracy is in decline, but we cannot ignore that it is being tested," President Christodoulides remarked. He noted that democracy faces challenges from the questioning of institutions, new technologies, and modes of communication that alter public debate and citizen-politics relationships. He emphasized that the major challenge is politics not adapting swiftly enough to citizens' real concerns and daily life changes.
President Christodoulides also referred to the successful completion of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The presidency aimed to bring the EU closer to citizens and address their everyday concerns by adapting to significant changes and providing solutions to societal issues.
"There is a direct connection between the quality of Democracy and the ability of institutions to adapt, to listen, and to provide solutions," he stated. He stressed that the key challenge is ensuring that democracy not only observes but also adapts to and utilizes the opportunities of the digital age.
He concluded by acknowledging the risks of the digital age but also recognized the new tools it offers for direct communication and meaningful participation. "And we must make these tools our allies," he affirmed.