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Representation of the Interests of the Citizens by the Members of Parliament – Truth or Myth

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According to data from field surveys conducted in 2018-2021 by the Institute for Democracy (IDSCS) as part of the Parliament Support Program (PSP), show that citizens believe that their interests are not always represented in the legislature. This comparative analysis of data from IDSCS annual surveys about the work of the Assembly aims to identify any changes in citizens’ views throughout the years.

In general, the perception of citizens is that MPs often represent personal interests, although this perception has changed and declined. Respectively, in 2019, 78% of the respondents stated that politicians always represent their own interests, while in 2021 the percentage of citizens with such views is on the decline and accounts for 70%. However, over two-thirds of the citizens have a negative perception about the work of MPs who are expected to represent citizens’ interests and not their personal interests. When it comes to the interests of citizens, according to data from field surveys from 2018 to 2021, citizens believe that MPs failed to represent their interests in the Assembly. In 2018, only 10% of the respondents stated that MPs always represent citizens’ interests. This small percentage declined in 2019 to 7%, while in 2020 only 6% of the citizens stated that MPs represent citizens’ interests in the legislature. Unlike 2020, there is a small increase of 3 percentage points in 2021.

Citizens’ low confidence that their deputies represent their interests in the House of Representatives runs counter to one of the most important parliamentary roles, as “peoples representatives”.

 

You can read the policy brief here:

Representation of the Interests of the Citizens by the Members of Parliament – Truth or Myth

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