Problems and Practices of Democratic Governance - Training Outcomes

A RiskMonitor's seminar held on December 16, 2011 in hotel "Radisson" gathered young people from different political parties. Representatives of GERB, BSP, NDSV, SDS, "Obedineni zemedelci" and DEI received certificates for completion of the training. Among their speakers were professors from Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" - assoc. Professor Daniel Smilov PhD, asst. Professor Dimitar Dimitrov, assoc. Professor Milena Stefanova PhD and assoc. Professor Rumiana Kolarova PhD. In their presentations, the lecturers hit sensitive topics such as party financing, democratic deficits of the Bulgarian political system, elections and decentralization.

Lively discussions among participants marked the quality and relevance of problems in focus. An important effect of the project was the possibility for young people with different political affiliations to meet and establish informal contacts.

In his module Prof. Smilov put special emphasis on the ideas of rule of law, conduct of fair elections and ensuring a peaceful political life, enshrined in the Declaration of Bamako (Mali, 2000). The Declaration is a key text regulating the political activity of Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, which supported the event.