Local Referendum as an Institutionalised Mechanism of Citizen Participation in Croatia

Abstract

Normativno-institucionalno oblikovanje participacije, pa tako i instituta referenduma, na lokalnoj razini vlasti značajno utječe na demokratsku i upravljačku korisnost participacije građana. Pravni okvir referenduma u Hrvatskoj, pa i onoga na lokalnoj razini, nije dostatno uređen, što posljedično nepovoljno utječe na njegov odlučivački dignitet i upravljačku vrijednost te se u tom smislu upozorava na ključne probleme i daju neke kritičke opservacije i preporuke.Normative-institutional shaping of participation, including the institute of local referendum, has an important impact on democratic and governance usefulness of citizen participation. Legal framework for referendum in Croatia (local referendum included) has not been adequately regulated, which has an adverse effect on its decision-making dignity and governance value. The author has shown the key problems of the institute and made some critical observations and suggestions