Government Communication 2003/04:110 Policies for Democracy Govt. Comm. No. 2003/04:110 To be submitted to the Swedish Riksdag Stockholm, 11 March 2004 Marita Ulvskog Mona Sahlin (Ministry of Justice) Outline of contents The present communication is divided into two principal sections: The first part, (Chapters 2–7) presents a detailed account and analysis of the development of Swedish democracy from 2002 in light of goals established as part of a national strategy for safeguarding and deepening Swedish democracy. It also includes a report of actions taken. Where the outcome of these measures is already known, the extent to which they have contributed to long-term efforts to achieve these goals is discussed. The second part (Chapters 8–12) concerns the future direction of the Government’s democracy policies. Its concluding assessment is that future policies should incorporate initiatives designed to encourage greater, more broadly-based public participation on the one hand, and action aimed at promoting human rights on the other. The communication also sets out the Government’s policy aims with regard to participation. These presuppose efforts to remove hindrances to – while strengthening conditions and generating opportunities for – greater, more equal participation. The Government plans to implement measures aimed at highlighting and removing structural obstacles that serve to hinder individuals from accessing power and exercising political influence. The Government will also take steps to counter threats to democracy, e.g. in the form of threats or violence directed at elected political representatives. Other measures to improve conditions for representatives will also be introduced. The Government intends to further emphasise the importance of participation between elections and the need to view citizen involvement from a civil rights perspective. It will also clearly define the significance of the creation of an additional level at which to exercise political influence following Sweden’s accession to the European Union. 1 Table of contents Skr. 2003/04:110 1. Introduction .......................................................................................6 1.1 The emergence of a democracy policy ...............................6 1.2 Sustained follow-up and evaluation of performance and goal achievement ................................................................7 1.3 A communication on participation in the political process and future democracy policy priorities .............................10 2. Goal 1: Voter turnout.......................................................................13 2.1 Follow-up..........................................................................13 2.1.1 Basic considerations .......................................13 2.1.2 Voter turnout over time ..................................14 2.1.3 Conclusions: follow-up...................................18 2.2 Explaining lower voter turnout .........................................19 2.3 Follow-up of implementation ...........................................20 2.3.1 Amendments to the Elections Act ..................20 2.3.2 Action by the Election Authority....................21 2.3.3 Time for Democracy.......................................23 2.3.4 Funding for parliamentary parties for the dissemination of information to people from foreign backgrounds .......................................25 2.3.5 Metropolitan policy ........................................27 2.3.6 Youth policy measures....................................28 2.3.7 A new date for elections to the European Parliament .......................................................28 2.3.8 Conclusions: follow-up...................................28 2.4 Measures ahead of the 2004 elections to the European Parliament .........................................................................29 2.4.1 Measures adopted by the Election Authority..29 2.4.2 Funding for parliamentary parties for information purposes ......................................29 2.4.3 Democracy-related measures ahead of the 2004 elections to the European Parliament .............30 2.5 Other ongoing projects and initiatives ..............................32 2.5.1 The 2003 Parliamentary Committee on the Elections Act...................................................32 2.5.2 Electronic voting.............................................32 3. Goal 2: Elected political representatives .........................................34 3.1 Follow-up..........................................................................34 3.1.1 Basic considerations .......................................34 3.1.2 Number of elected representatives and appointments...................................................35 3.1.3 Representativity ..............................................36 3.1.4 Conclusions: follow-up...................................41 3.2 Follow-up of implementation ...........................................42 3.2.1 Basic considerations .......................................42 3.2.2 Compensation .................................................42 3.2.3 Education and training....................................46 2 3.2.4 Threats and violence against elected Skr. 2003/04:110 representatives ................................................47 3.2.5 Conclusions: follow-up...................................48 3.3 Ongoing and planned measures and initiatives.................48 3.3.1 Elected representatives with disabilities.........48 3.3.2 Recruitment of elected representatives...........49 3.3.3 Efforts by other actors.....................................49 4. Goal 3: Participation between elections ..........................................50 4.1 Follow-up..........................................................................50 4.1.1 Basic considerations .......................................50 4.1.2 Channels of influence at local level................51 4.1.3 Channels of influence at national level...........56 4.1.4 Channels of influence at EU level ..................58 4.1.5 Levels of public involvement and participation in political activities........................................60 4.1.6 Participation in the activities of community- based organisations.........................................63 4.1.7 Perceived scope for exercising influence and knowledge of existing channels......................64 4.1.8 Conclusions: follow-up...................................65 4.2 Channels of influence .......................................................66 4.2.1 Local government referendums ......................66 4.2.2 Local school boards ........................................68 4.2.3 Citizens’ proposals..........................................70 4.2.4 Some observations at national level ...............73 4.2.5 Support for exchanges of information and experience .......................................................74 4.2.6 General observations on local government efforts to develop local democracy.................76 4.2.7 Conclusions: an evaluation of some channels of influence..........................................................76 4.3 Ongoing and planned measures and initiatives.................77 4.3.1 Review of the referral process ........................77 4.3.2 Greater transparency in financing of political party and preference vote campaigns .............77 4.3.3 Public meeting places .....................................77 4.3.4 Review of policy on organised community activity ............................................................78 4.3.5 New organisations ..........................................79 4.3.6 Follow-up of voluntary efforts........................79 4.3.7 The need for more data ...................................79 5. Goal 4: More equal participation.....................................................81 5.1 Follow-up..........................................................................81 5.1.1 Basic considerations .......................................81 5.2 Women and men ...............................................................82 5.2.1 Participation in different channels of influence82 5.2.2 Implemented measures and ongoing efforts...84 5.3 Children and young people ...............................................86 5.3.1 Voter turnout among young people and their participation as elected representatives ..........86 3 5.3.2 Participation and influence among children and Skr. 2003/04:110 young people under 18....................................87 5.3.3 Other channels of influence for children and young people/young adults.............................88 5.3.4 Recent and ongoing efforts to boost voter turnout and strengthen young adults’ participation in their capacity of elected representatives ................................................89 5.3.5 Recent and current efforts to strengthen participation among children and young people between elections............................................89 5.4 People from foreign backgrounds.....................................92 5.4.1 Participation in different channels of influence92 5.4.2 Implemented measures and ongoing efforts...94 5.5 People with disabilities .....................................................97 5.5.1 Participation in different channels of influence97 5.5.2 Implemented measures and ongoing efforts...97 5.6 The elderly ......................................................................100 5.6.1 Participation in different channels of influence100 5.6.2 Implemented measures and ongoing efforts.101 5.7 Employed and