Democracy need trust to function. At the most basic level, citizens need to trust their votes will be counted and the system is not “rigged”. They also need trust in democratic institutions, including in the separation of powers and checks and balances. Ideally, they should trust the media to report events fairly and accurately.
Yet, paradoxically, democracy also depends on a certain amount of distrust. After all, if governments could be trusted 100%, why would an elaborate system of checks and balances on their power even be necessary? Is scepticism when it comes to politics always a bad thing, or can it be the first step towards political engagement?
On Tuesday 27 October at 12:00 CEST, we will be streaming an online Citizens’ Panel discussing the issue of trust in European politics. We invited Damian Boeselager, an MEP and co-founder of the pan-European Volt party, to discuss trust in politics with a panel of five European citizens.
You can watch the stream here or on our Facebook page.
How would you restore trust in politics? Are people too critical of our political systems? Or is scepticism towards politics a good thing? Let us know your thoughts and comments in the form below and we’ll take them to policymakers and experts for their reactions!
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Find honest Candidates to stand for Elections and reduce significantly the money involved and maybe even reduce the power of Political Parties so more Independents can become elected.
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this interesting debate.
Felicitări si mult succes în viitor!!
Wachten op `n volledig nieuwe generatie politici, en iedere keer aan de leugendetector zodra ze iets te zeggen hebben.