translated from Spanish: Tomás Hirsch presents project: “communal plebiscites bring us closer to real democracy”

a draft amending the law of municipalities, allowing presenting communal plebiscites citizenship to legislate and solve local problems, presented a group of members of the opposition.
The initiative promoted by the Deputy of the party humanist Tomas Hirsch, modifies the 18.695 law in order that the people have the power of decision to the local situations, approaching a more participatory democracy and real, say its promoters.
The parliamentary motion contains two changes: the first is to reduce the quorum of people that drive as that approved citizen consultation (5% and 50% of voters in the last municipal election, respectively). The second has to do with the presentation to the local government: it will be possible to do it before the Secretary of the municipality and with advanced electronic signature.
Tomás Hirsch (PH) said that “communal plebiscites bring us closer to real democracy. Citizenship has always had the right to call these instances, but current legislation puts obstacles that make impossible the realization of consultations.”
On the other hand, the Deputy Gonzalo Winter (MA) said that “We strongly believe in the deepening of democracy, missing much to move forward, but this project that facilitates the communal plebiscites is a contribution to redistribute power, strengthening to the” local communities and invite the society to get involved in politics”.
Mrs Daniela Ciccardini (PS) said that “we believe that this is the moment in which not only not must place obstacles to our democracy that both cost us to retrieve, but on the contrary, strengthen it, decentralizing decisions, and facilitate the” participation of citizens there where born that democracy, which is in the community, at the local, which is heard, given validity and respect for the opinion and the voice of the people”.
Meanwhile, legislator Joanna Pérez (DC) said that “when we speak of citizen participation and greater empowerment of civil society organisations, we must also deliver the tools and opportunities to make it reality. Therefore, this project aims to precisely this objective”.
For his part, Deputy Ricardo Celis (PPD) said that “people want to decide on the treatment of household waste, that will install squares, sports centers of their communities.” Those are discussions that have on neighborhoods. The municipal councils are part of this democracy, but there is nothing better than to ask those who are directly involved or want to participate”.
At the same time, the spokesperson for the Group of committees of safety of the Queen, Carolina Gomez, explained that “we support this reform, because it unlocks, and simplifies the regulations which has requirements that are not real. “This reflects the community identity implementation: quorums simpler, calling for faster and more active people”.
The project is also supported by members of Catalina Perez (RD), Marcela Hernando (PRSD) and Pedro Velasquez (FRVS), among others.

Original source in Spanish