In this issue, the Parliamentary Insider brings assessment of the work of the Parliament over the summer of 2019. The focus of this issue is on the activities of the Parliament in July, due to the August break. The highlights of the month include the appointment of Milan Marinović as the new Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection, as well as the plenary debates on the reports of the independent institutions after a five-year break. On the other hand, non-agenda topics took up time during the discussion in the plenary sessions again, which where also marked with insults on account of the institutions, media and civil society.
Citizens of Belgrade require from the Ministry of Interior more information about video-surveillance
At the street action “We have the right to know: Where are we all being monitored?”, the Belgraders sent more than 200 requests to the Ministry of Interior, asking which locations were covered by the identity recognition system, how much funding was allocated for video surveillance equipment and which method of surveillance proved to be…
On the occasion of the Week of the Public’s Right to Know, CRTA is organising a street action in Belgrade, on Wednesday September 25 th , wishing to urge citizens to ask the competent institution (Ministry of the Interior) whether automatic identity recognition system jeopardises citizens’ privacy. Within the campaign Serbia to information, a street action will be organised at Republic Square, from 4 to 6 pm.
The growing gap between the poor and the rich is one of the main strongholds of distrust in democracy. But the biggest problem is currently happening to the middle and middle-lower class, who are rebelling because they had reason to expect more than what is now being accomplished”, was the conclusion brought by the discussion…
The opening ceremony for the “Academy of Democracy” organised by CRTA with the support of OSCE Mission in Serbia and the National Democratic Institute, was held within the Democracy Festival. At the opening, the CRTA director Vukosava Crnjanski point out that for the fourth year in a row, the Academy of Democracy program had been…
“Citizens are less and less confident in the up-to-datedness and accuracy of the voters’ register. Although the voter’s register is not the biggest election problem, it certainly is one of the many segments that make the elections free and fair. Losing citizens’ trust negatively affects all the conditions of the electoral process,” was the conclusion brought by the discussion “Everything according to the register?” organised by CRTA within the Festival of Democracy.
“Citizens do not have full insight into the violation of legal regulations in the process of financing the election campaign, nor can they get an answer to questions of whether and to what extent funds from various budget sources are misused, as institutions are not sufficiently engaged in resolving this issue and establishing facts“, is the conclusion of the debate “Who’s paying and who’s controlling?“ organised by CRTA within the Festival of Democracy.
Strongly believing that democracy is more powerful than the challenges it faces, this year together with our partners we organize the first Festival of Democracy from 13th to 15th September in Belgrade and many towns across Serbia, aiming to boost optimism and reinforce trust in democracy.
Our topics
Democratic culture
Because politics is not just for politicians. It is our human and citizen right to participate in the processes of making decisions which influence our lives. A dialogue has no alternative.
Free and fair elections
Because elections are the pillars of democracy. It is every citizen’s right to decide on whom to give his/her vote in free and fair conditions. Our vote is valuable and it can make a difference.
Open institutions
Because institutions serve the citizens. We need strong institutions with integrity which protect the public interest.
Free media
Because media should ask questions and critically analyse the reality. We need the media which protect the public interest and tackle the needs of the citizens.
