Presentation – IIeP workshop 2011-11-02

Ahmad Azizi

Democracy Development Manager

Chief Executive`s Department

Botkyrka municipality

Tel: 08-530 614 36

SMS: 070 733 80 78 72

ahmad.azizi@botkyrka.se

www.botkyrka.se

Democracy and citizens participation - a priority in

Botkyrka

Botkyrka

Population: 84.000 residents

One of Sweden`s youngest

population – middle age 36,9 year

Sweden`s most international

Municipality –Cosmopolitan- population –

half of the residents have a non-Swedish background

Six parts of the municipality - Alby, Fittja,

Hallunda/Norsborg in north, Tullinge, Tumba, Vårsta/Grödinge in south.

Municipality Council

Vård- och omsorgs-

Departement

Municipality Executive Chief Executive's

Department

Klimat & Planerings-

beredning

Demokratiberedning

(preparation)

Arbete- och närings-

livsberedningen

Vård- och omsorgs-

board

Kultur- och fritids-

board

Kultur- och fritids-

Department

Election's board Chief Executive's

Department

Samhällsbyggnads-

Department

Miljö- och hälso-

Skydds board

Arbetsmarknad och

Vuxenutb Department. Arbetsmarknad och

vuxenutbildnngs board

Utbildnings Department Utbildnings board

Teknisk board

Service Department

Social board Social Department Samhällsbyggnads board

Revisorer

Personalutskott

Dialogforum

Distribution of seats 2011-2014

61 seats in the Municipal

Council

The Social Democrats 24

The Left Party 4

The Green Party 4

The Conservative Party 13

The Liberal Party 3

The Christian Democrats 2

Botkyrkaparty 2

Tullingeparty 6

Sweden democrats 3

The aim of developing democracy and participation:

• to make politics more interesting and vibrant for the citizens

• to stimulate the democratic dialogue.

• to make it more easy for all groups in society to use their democratic right to influence the development.

• to support those already engaged, and create new possibilities for those who are not represented.

Challenges

• The Citizens ability to participate in the democratic process is depending of the development in society.

• Less and less Citizens are active in politics/democracy/political parties.

•The possibilities and prerequisites for the citizen's to practice ones democratic rights are not equal.

Possibilities for local democracy?

•The representative democracy:

-Support to politicians

- Increase the number of voters

Participation in elections in Botkyrka

Eligable votes Number of

votes

Participation

%

+/-

Botkyrka 52 962 41 737 78,81 2,7

N. Botkyrka 23 004 16 291 70,82 2,3

S. Botkyrka 29 958 25 446 84,92 2,8

Parliament election 2010

Eligable Actual votes participation

%

Dif. -/+

Botkyrka 60 003 43 680 72,8 1.8

N. Botkyrka 27 725 17 626 63,6 1,0

S. Botkyrka 32 278 26 054 80,7 2,3

Local election 2010

Campaign for the election 2010

Means:

-General information about the election

-Social media: www.botkyrkasroster.se

-Direct communication

-Campaigns in collaboration with the citizens

-Activities in schools

-Special efforts on special groups like first time voters

-Using of divers language

-Society informants

Purpose:

-Strengthen the participation of the citizens and ability to influence the democratic process and increase the number of votes.

Samhällsinformatör (society informants) as a support in

the municipal efforts for an increased participation

in the elections.

1. Support communication between the municipal organization and the citizens.

2. Discussion with the citizens about the importance to give your vote.

3. Engage associations and schools in joint activities with the municipality.

Participatory democracy?

• Submit Citizen proposals - Every citizen has the right to make suggestions to

Municipality Council

• Youth Council- - Represents from intermediate school, high school, and

another young 12-22 years.

• Dialogue Forum

- Forum for meeting between citizens and politicians

- Officers role: the professionally and the practically support to politicians

• Citizens Panel- an internet-based panel

• Research circles

- Citizens, researcher, politicians and officers

• Digidel campaign - A campaign for those who do not use computer/internet

Possibilities to influence the local democracy