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Tag: Local authorities

22. March 2015.

Participatory budgeting and good economy – the ways to a “new” democracy

Participatory budgeting is and aid to good economy and can restore the trust of citizens in politics. However, although a powerful tool, it is not a magic wand and also hinges on political will. The key prerequisite is for citizens to realize that they can and should take part in political decision making, with the […]

4. December 2014.

"Ineffective municipalities and cities shouldn’t necessarily be abolished, but functional mergers are a must"

Should counties be abolished, is there a need to reduce the number of cities and municipalities and why is decentralization such a frequent buzzword? How can the power of local political bosses be curbed and the quality of governing common goods and public services increased? Are election results important for the results of LOTUS and […]

14. November 2014.

As many as 1.473.218 Croatian citizens living „in the dark“

Although the inhabitants of Rijeka can boast living in the most transparent city in Croatia, with the Varaždin county in the lead among the twenty counties and Belica taking the first place among municipalities, on the whole, every third citizen of Croatia lives “in the dark” – show the results of the LOTUS openness and […]

3. November 2014.

How to avoid corruption and clientelism in governing public goods?

Although water is a common good, water services in Croatia are governed authoritatively and hierarchically, with the debate on a new model of governance still limited to „a choice“ between two supposed alternatives: either privatization, or status quo in terms of an ineffective, corruptive and clientelistic mode of resource governance. Instead, the reform of governing […]

4. September 2014.

Government downsizing state administration offices

The government on Thursday sent to parliament a bill of amendments to the state administration law under which the current 20 state administration offices would be reorganised into five. Public Administration Minister Arsen Bauk said the five offices would each cover several counties and that the law was being aligned with a 2012 Constitution Court […]

24. April 2012.

Whose government is the most transparent one? LOTUS 2011/12 Research Results

From September 2011 to February 2012, GONG conducted the second round of research focused on transparency and openness of local and regional self-government. The research was carried out in cooperation with the Association of Cities of the Republic of Croatia, including each of the 576 units of local and regional self-government. The aim was to […]

One sixth of towns and municipalities meet transparency criteria

Only 16 percent out of a total of 556 cities, towns and municipalities in Croatia satisfy criteria of transparency, openness and responsibility in their treatment of residents and other groups concerned, and the city of Rijeka has earned the highest mark, 8.8 with the top mark being 10, according to findings of a survey conducted […]