The 2022 Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy will see a mix of traditional conference panels and workshops, but also excursions and opportunities to experience direct democratic practice on the ground. See the full programme below.
Or download the booklet in English or in German.
15:00-15:30 Welcome yoga
Location: European Public Sphere, Bahnhofstrasse 5 Lucerne
Session by Elisabeth Erlandsson Kaufmann
16:00-17:30 Global Forum Democracy Walk: Welcome to Switzerland and Lucerne –
introduction to the fascinating history and contemporary reality of modern
democracy (DE/EN)
Presented by SWI Swissinfo.ch
Claude Longchamp, historian and political scientist.
Welcome: Renat Kuenzi, Democracy Journalist SWI swissinfo.ch.
Meeting point: Historical arch in front of the Lucerne train station in front of Lucerne railway station. Language: German/English translation
In the middle of it instead of just being there: Lucerne was the scene of the wild constitutional battles between liberals and conservatives. These culminated in a civil war in 1847, the Sonderbundskrieg. What a miracle: although the Catholic canton was one of the losers, Lucerne contributed several times to the democratisation of Switzerland. For example, with the pioneering popular initiative, the showpiece of today's direct democracy in Switzerland.
From 17:30 Registration and Apéro Riche
Location: University of Lucerne (Mensa)
19:00-21:00 Opening Evening: How Democracy Moves Forward
Location: University Luzern, Rudolf Albert Koechlin Auditorium (DE/EN)
Presented by the Host Organisations of the 2022 Forum: Swiss Democracy Foundation, Democracy International, City of Lucerne, University of Lucerne
With welcome remarks and cultural inputs by Albin Brun and Markus Lauterburg including Theaterkids "Fought like a Lion," and the Federation of Swiss Youth Parliaments FSYP.
Swiss direct democracy in practice: Introduction of the topics slated for the vote on 25 September and the 2022 Global Forum Ballot process.
Moderator: Adrian Schmid, President Local Host Committee, Lucerne, Switzerland
Opening remarks by:
- Salvina Knobel, Member of the Lucerne Youth Parliament, Switzerland
- Beat Züsli, Mayor of Lucerne, Switzerland
- Irène Kälin, National Council President, Switzerland
- Moritz Leuenberger, former Federal Councillor, Switzerland
- Leonore Gewessler, Minister of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology, Austria (Remote)
- Michael von der Lohe, OMNIBUS for Direct Democracy, Germany
- Patricia Islas, Journalist, Democracy Beat, SWI Swissinfo.ch
- José Manuel Ribeiro, Mayor of the City of Valongo, Portugal
“How Can We Best Sustain—and Improve—Democracy for the Future?”
Keynote by Robert Talisse, philosopher, Vanderbilt University (Nashville, Tennessee), and author, Sustaining Democracy: What We Owe to the Other Side.
“War. Truth. Democracy. The lessons from Ukraine”
Keynote by Sevgil Musayeva, Chief Editor of Ukrainska Pravda and one of the 100 most influential people in 2022 according to Time Magazine.
Moderator: Stefanie Bosshard, Director, Swiss Democracy Foundation
From 8:00 Registration
Location: Neubad
09:00-10:30 Welcome and Opening Panel on the Present and Future of Modern Democracy in Times of Multiple Global Crises
Location: Neubad, Pool (DE/EN)
Democracy is challenged in many ways on all political levels today. This is true for the world as much as for the host country of this year's Global Forum, Switzerland.
In this opening panel we address these current challenges and the future options of modern representative democracy from four different perspectives: academia, diplomacy, philanthropy and public media.
Together we identify ways and strategies to counter antidemocratic developments and risks by exploring options and limits of democracy support.
Why is it important to invest into democracy today? The answers and ideas of this opening panel will help us to better understand the complexity of democracy-work when it comes to climate protection, youth empowerment, transnational democracy and digitisation – tracks on the agenda of the 2022 Forum.
- Yanina Welp, Political Scientist, Albert Hirschman Center for Democracy in Geneva;
- Simon Geissbühler, Ambassador for Human Rights and Democracy at the Swiss Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
- Linda Sulzer, Head of the democracy division at Mercator Switzerland Foundation;
- Jung-Ok Lee, Former South Korean Minister of Gender Equality
Moderator: Bruno Kaufmann, Co-President Global Forum
10:30-11:30 Panel: How Can Direct Democracy and Deliberative Democracy Make Each Other Better?
Location: Neubad, Pool (DE/EN)
One constant problem for citizens assemblies, and other forms of deliberative democracy, is impact. The powers-that-be often frustrate efforts to turn the important ideas and proposals from deliberative bodies into real laws, votes, and constitutional amendments. This is not a problem for direct democracy, and ballot/citizens initiatives, which allow the people to change policies or take action directly. So, what if we were to combine the two? Could creating processes that involve both citizens assembly and citizens initiatives for the voters help us marry deliberation and direct action? What models currently exist in the digital and non-digital worlds for such fusions of deliberative and direct democracy? And what would the ideal direct-deliberative system look like, if the goal were to invite more of civil society into governance?
Presented by Berggruen Institute
- Wendy Willis, Oregon’s Kitchen Table; Deliberative Democracy Consortium, and organizer of forthcoming Center for Constitutional Deliberation, USA
- Andri Heimann, Zentrum für Demokratie Aarau, Switzerland
- Nathan Gardels, Editor-in-Chief Noema Magazine, USA
- Kalypso Nicolaïdis, Chair in international Affairs EUI School of Transnational Governance (Remote)
- Iain Walker, Executive Director New Democracy (Remote)
- David Farrell, Ireland (Remote)
Moderator: Joe Mathews, Co-President Global Forum
11:00-11:15 Quick yoga break
Location: Neubad terrace
Session by Elisabeth Erlandsson Kaufmann
11:30-12:00 Coffee break
Presented by Mehr Demokratie
This track is about innovative methods to strengthen democracy. We’ll look at technology, new opportunities for collaboration, and citizens’ growing social and cultural expectations that they themselves will participate in decision-making. What are the best ways we know now to draw on the intelligence of the people? How can we increase deliberation, especially in the digital world? How do participation and co-determination tools need to be interlinked and combined to make them useful for the resilient democracies of tomorrow?
12:00-13:30 1.1. Panel: By the many! How to democratise democracy in the 21th century.
Location: Neubad, Pool (DE/EN)
With technological and societal advances, both the possibilities for democracy and the expectations of democracy have grown. The demands for more direct democracy and citizen participation are becoming louder around the world. How can we use both new, digital tools and old concepts of democracy, such as lottocracy, to create more resilient democracies?
- Raul Magni-Berton, Catholic University of Lille,
- Silvia Cervellini, Delibera Brasil
- Dmytro Khutky, Centre for Advanced Internet Studies
Moderator: Ingrid Woods, Mehr Demokratie
13:00-13:15 Quick yoga break
Location: Neubad, Pool
Session by Elisabeth Erlandsson Kaufmann
13:30 - 14:30 Lunch
Location: Neubad, Pool
14:00-14:30 Lunchtime yoga break
Location: Neubad, Pool
Session by Elisabeth Erlandsson Kaufmann
14:30-16:00 1.2 Workshop: Shaping democracy with sortition
Location: Neubad, Klub
“Lottocracy” is the buzzword. The best-known form is citizens' assemblies. In these new democratic spaces, academics sit next to craftswomen, pensioners next to young people, locals next to immigrants. Their task is to jointly propose solutions to political and social problems. These randomly selected citizens' assemblies, in combination with referendums, can also improve the quality of direct democracy. How such assemblies work (and don’t work), why we need them, and how they might be integrated with other forms of democracy will be explained in this workshop.
- Thorsten Sterk, Mehr Demokratie
- Andri Heimann, Center for Democracy Aarau
14:30-16:00 1.3 Workshop: Imagine all the people... towards citizen participation in the digital realm
Location: Neubad, Seminar 1
Imagine 300.000 people knocking at your door with thousands of ideas. Explore this digital democracy scenario with us and learn about best practices from all over the world. More and more cities are making their decision-making processes more open, transparent and participatory with the help of free and open-source democracy software. This trend can revitalise urban and digital discourse and empower citizens to shape the fate of municipal interaction themselves. This workshop focuses on different scenarios, best practices and the importance of open source for digital participation. Join us to prepare the world for real digital democracy.
- Ingrid Woods, Mehr Demokratie
- Jan Renner, Mehr Demokratie
15:30-15:45 Quick yoga break
Location: Neubad, Pool
Session by Elisabeth Erlandsson Kaufmann
16:30-18:00 1.4 Workshop: Transparency laws - the path to an open society - WORKSHOP CANCELLED
Location: Neubad, Backstage
The prerequisite for any participation is free information. Those who cannot easily find out about state affairs are discouraged from truly participating. So finding paths to a more open, democratic and inclusive society requires more transparency. What are transparency laws? Where do they already exist and what do you need to consider when calling for more transparency? These and more questions around transparency policy will be brought to your attention in this workshop.
- Marie Jünemann, Mehr Demokratie
- Helen Darbishire, Access Info Europe (remote)
16:30-18:00 1.5. Workshop: How to build a Europe of the people?
Location: Neubad, Seminar 1
The European Union is the most complex structure of cooperation between states ever created. But today it finds itself at a crossroads: Will Europe find its own way in a seemingly bipolar world that is divided between China, Russia and others on the one hand and the US on the other? Will it update its democratic structures to rise to the challenges of our times? Europe’s defining core, next to the protection of human rights, should become the systemic and inclusionary participation of its citizens. We want to discuss with you: How do we make Europe into a project of the people?
- Sarah Händel, Mehr Demokratie
- Anthony Zacharewski, Democratic Society
17:00-17:15 Quick yoga break
Location: Neubad, Pool
Session by Elisabeth Erlandsson Kaufmann
The climate challenge is also a challenge for modern democracies. As governments and social movements search for effective ways to tackle the climate crisis, they are increasingly turning to direct and participatory tools of democratic engagement. The expectations associated with these tools are varied. Does citizens’ deliberation lead to more radical policy measures? How much consensus do we need to pursue societal transformation democratically? And do democratic and participatory tools legitimise policy decisions—or create more doubts about the interests behind them?
Presented by the Stiftung Mercator, Germany
12:00-13:30 2.1. Workshop: Finding the right tool for the job: Innovative citizen participation for climate action
Location: Neubad, Klub
Many instruments are being developed to better engage with the “silent majority” of citizens, at the local, national and supranational levels. These instruments include public consultations, focus groups, citizens’ assemblies, and participatory budgeting. Many of these are actively applied in the climate debate, both by governments and civil society. In this workshop we’ll look at which instruments suit which contexts.
- Steffen Krenzer, Die Klimadebatte, Mehr Demokratie
- Frederik Wegener, Liquid Democracy
- Liam Innis, Manager der Energy Ecosystems Renewables Grid Initiative
- Christa Wenger, Co-President Greens City Lucerne and Member of Parliament
Moderator: Katharina Zuegel, Decider Ensemble
12:00-13:30 2.2. Workshop: Citizens’ Assemblies on Climate — lessons from around the globe
Location: Neubad, Seminar 1
Citizens’ assemblies have proven a particularly popular tool to address the climate crisis. In recent years, we have witnessed climate assemblies from the local to the global level in a variety of implementations. From Uster to North Macedonia, to the COP26 Climate Conference. What are the lessons-learned from these diverse experiences? What are the opportunities and pitfalls? What are characteristics of a good citizens’ assembly process?
- Agim Selami, ZIP Institute North Macedonia
- Nenad Stojanović, Center for Democracy Aarau
- Jon Stever, Global Assembly
- Irene Alonso Toucido, Federation for Innovation in Democracy Europe
Moderator: Lise Deshautel, European Climate Foundation
13:00-13:15 Quick yoga break
Location: Neubad, Pool
Session by Elisabeth Erlandsson Kaufmann
13:30-14:30 Lunch
Location: Neubad, Pool
14:00-14:30 Lunchtime yoga break
Location: Neubad, Pool
Session by Elisabeth Erlandsson Kaufmann
14:30-16:00 2.3. Panel: Tackling the climate crisis with more democracy
Location: Neubad, Pool (DE/EN)
The climate crisis has given rise to strong calls for participatory tools of democratic engagement. In this panel, we will investigate why the climate crisis specifically has generated such momentum for direct and participatory democracy. We will discuss expectations and impacts linked to different tools of participation. And we will look at how instruments of democratic engagement can be successfully linked to the work of social movements and civil society.
- Amanda Suarez, ClimateScience
- Erwin Mayer, Democracy International
- Sarah Atwood, Center for New Democratic Processes
Moderator: Charlotte Ruhbaum, Mercator Foundation Germany
15:30-15:45 Quick yoga break
Location: Neubad, Pool
Session by Elisabeth Erlandsson Kaufmann
16:30-18:00 2.4 Workshop: The climate engagement geography: Effectively linking democratic participation, civil society & social movements
Location: Laboratorium (DE/EN)
Civil society organisations and social movements are important players in shaping the discourse on the climate crisis and in mobilising public pressure on political decision-makers. While some civil society actors welcome more deliberative practices of citizens’ engagement in climate policy, others fear it as competition to the involvement of organised civil society. This workshop looks at the role deliberative practices of citizens’ engagement can play vis-à-vis civil society and social movements in the political arena. How can complementarity and effective linkage look?
- Noora Firaq, Climate Outreach UK
- Milena Hess, Swiss Climate Strike
- Erwin Mayer, Democracy International
Moderator: Laura Bullon-Cassis, International Institute for Sustainable Development
16:30-18:00 2.5 Workshop: Climate on the ballot: Leveraging local direct democracy for global action
Location: Neubad, Seminar 2
Around the globe, citizens have sought to use direct democracy to enforce binding decisions on climate change, especially on the local level. However, the climate crisis does not stop at city or country borders. How can direct democratic action on the local level engender impact on the global level?
- Achim Wölfel, Klimawende Köln
- Michael Efler, BürgerBegehren Klimaschutz
- Rahel Estermann, Member of Cantonal Parliament of Lucerne
Moderator: Adrià Duarte, United Cities and Local Governments
17:00-17:15 Quick yoga break
Location: Neubad, Pool
Session by Elisabeth Erlandsson Kaufmann
The pandemic has stress-tested our democratic institutions. Now it’s time to take stock of how we do democracy. How can we build good supporting infrastructure for our democracies? Who has the right to take part in decision-making? How can we include young people and the rights of future generations? To answer these questions, we will invite participants to do comparative work, considering the experience of their own community in contrast to what we are learning about our host country of Switzerland, and our 2023 Global Forum host, Mexico, to ground our thinking.
Presented by Swiss Democracy Foundation, Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Federation of Swiss Youth Parliaments FSYP, Direct Democracy Navigator at Liechtenstein Institute, AlgorithmWatch Switzerland and Foraus
12:00-13:30 3.1 Workshop: Promising forms of youth participation in Europe
Location: Neubad, Backstage
The workshop “Promising forms of youth participation in Europe” will treat best practices of youth participation and demands from young people for their successful implementation. We will discuss these best practices from central Europe in a global context and try to see how these possibilities could spread globally.
- Yanina Welp, Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy, Geneva Graduate Institute
- Anne Hardt, Democracy International
- Participants from the Democracy Youth Camp
Moderator: Christian Isler, Federation of Swiss Youth Parliaments
12:00-13:30 3.2 Workshop: Smart democracy - Fostering participation through digital platforms
Location: Neubad, Seminar 2
In the past years, technological platforms have played an increasingly important role in informing and persuading voters. Done right, tools like this can provide important support infrastructure to voters. Smartvote International is such a tool that matches voters with candidates and parties that share their policy positions. In this workshop, we’ll look at best-practices and experiences for participation tools.
- Robin Bartlett Rissi, Smartvote International, Politools, KPM Center for Public Management, University of Bern
13:00-13:15 Quick yoga break
Location: Neubad, Pool
Session by Elisabeth Erlandsson Kaufmann
13:30-14:30 Lunch
Location: Neubad, Pool
14:00-14:30 Lunchtime yoga break
Location: Neubad, Pool
Session by Elisabeth Erlandsson Kaufmann
14:30-16:00 3.3 Workshop: The Direct Democracy Navigator - The Starting Point for Information, Facts and Comparative Analyses about Direct Democracy Laws Worldwide
Location: Neubad, Backstage
The Direct Democracy Navigator is a one-of-a-kind open information platform, gathering the characteristics of over 2,000 direct democracy instruments around the world on the local, regional, national and levels. In this workshop, we’ll look at how the navigator is being used, and at its potential as a resource for research.
- Klaus Hofmann, Democracy International
- Eike-Christian Hornig, Liechtenstein Institute
14:30-16:00 3.4 Workshop: How democratic are algorithms?
Location: Laboratorium (DE/EN)
Increasingly, algorithms and artificial intelligence negotiate our access to democracy. What is the impact of this and how can we come to an ethical use of artificial intelligence in public and election administration? In this workshop, we will investigate how governance structures can be developed in such a way that digitisation benefits everyone.
- Anna Mätzener, AlgorithmWatch Switzerland
- Matthias Spielkamp, AlgorithmWatch Germany
15:30-15:45 Quick yoga break
Location: Neubad, Pool
Session by Elisabeth Erlandsson Kaufmann
16:30-18:00 3.5 Panel: How can we include the opinions, beliefs, and wishes of young people and the rights of future generations?
Location: Neubad, Pool (DE/EN)
In this interactive session, we will look at the current challenges around democratic inclusion and infrastructure with a particular focus on including young people and the rights of future generations. What are the barriers to participation for young people? How can we ensure that intergenerational equity is taken into account? Join us for a creative and hands-on discussion. In this session, we will look at the current challenges around democratic inclusion and infrastructure with a particular focus on including young people and the rights of future generations. What are the barriers to participation for young people? How can we ensure that intergenerational equity is taken into account?
- Linda Sulzer, Head of the democracy division at Mercator Switzerland
- Roberto Carlos Rivera-González, Cohabitantes Mx
- Simon Berthoud, AG!SONS
- Lillian Kimbell, California State University
Moderator: Eduardo Belinchon de la Banda, foraus
17:00-17:15 Quick yoga break
Location: Neubad, Pool
Session by Elisabeth Erlandsson Kaufmann
Increasingly we are facing challenges that are transnational in nature and can only be tackled on the global level. However, on this transnational level, direct and participatory democratic instruments are still lacking. How can citizens participate effectively in global decision-making? How can we create synergies between local and national models of democracy and the transnational level? How can digital tools be used to strengthen global democracy?
Presented by GloCo & Democracy International
12:00-13:30 4.1 Panel: Building a Global Democracy "Now is the time for transnational democracy.”
Location: Laboratorium (DE/EN)
We have urgent global problems, and we also have the technology to build a global democracy for their resolution. So, how come global democracy does not exist yet? What obstacles stand in the way to creating digital-based governance that crosses borders? What elements are needed to build democratic infrastructure on the global level? How might global popular movements play a role? What is the role and responsibility of nation states?
- Stefan Kalberer, Democracy Without Borders
- Eston McKeague, Young World Federalists
- Lucy Koechlin, GloCo
Moderator: Caroline Vernaillen, Democracy International
13:00-13:15 Quick yoga break
Location: Neubad, Pool
Session by Elisabeth Erlandsson Kaufmann
13:30-14:30 Lunch
Location: Neubad, Pool
14:00-14:30 Lunchtime yoga break
Location: Neubad, Pool
Session by Elisabeth Erlandsson Kaufmann
14:30-16:00 4.2 Workshop: What (digital) tools do we need for a transnational democracy?
Location: Neubad, Seminar 2
To rise to the task of global challenges, we need to build democratic infrastructure that surpasses national borders in a way that radically differs from international relations today. Yet, certain key activities will remain relevant. In this workshop, we will jointly identify 2-4 key elements of transnational democracy and discuss them in groups in order to define what will be needed.
- Uwe Serdült, Center for Democracy Aarau
- Eduardo Belinchon de la Banda, foraus
- Gery Colombo, GloCo
Moderator: Gilles Mentré, Electis
14:30-16:00 4.3 Workshop: The European Citizens’ Initiative - Understanding campaigner challenges and the value of an online support platform
Location: Neubad, Bistro
The workshop will aim to gather a practical understanding of campaigner experiences including challenges faced by backers of citizens initiatives and will explore how and to what extent the support infrastructure of the European Citizens’ Initiative - from the European Citizens’ Initiative Forum to the Central Online Collection System - meet and offset the challenges faced by campaigners. Do organisers of European Citizens’ Initiatives face the same challenges as other initiative organisers? Participants will be heard on what support tools are available for similar initiative instruments around Europe and worldwide. Feedback from the workshop will be used to improve the existing support tools for future ECI organisers.
- Tony Venables, Representative Voters Without Borders, European Citizens’ Initiative
- Representative of Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics, European Citizens’ Initiative
Moderator: Daniela Vancic, Democracy International
15:30-15:45 Quick yoga break
Location: Neubad, Pool
Session by Elisabeth Erlandsson Kaufmann
16:30-18:00 4.4 Workshop: Transnational Democracy from the top or from the bottom?
Location: Neubad, Klub
What are the pathways towards achieving democracy beyond the nation state? Do we work “top-down," by democratising existing multilateral institutions such as the UN, the EU and others? Or can we create a global democracy from the bottom, alongside and beyond existing institutions? Questions around citizen mobilisation, the legitimacy of political decisions, and the impact of transnational democratic solutions must be addressed with far more urgency. The purpose of the workshop is to identify the most important actions to be taken to accelerate transnational democratisation and effective problem-solving on a global level.
- Alexandra Gavilano, Citizens’ Democracy, Greenpeace
- Daniel Graf, WeCollect, Foundation for Direct Democracy
- Daniela Vancic, Democracy International
- Jon Stever, Global Assembly
Moderator: Lucy Koechlin, GloCo
16:30-18:00 4.5 Workshop: Democracy under threat - civil society action across borders
Location: Neubad - Walk & Talk - Meeting point at the Pool info point
Around the world, recent advances to democracy are being reversed, but democracy activists continue their work. What does international solidarity mean in this context? How can democracy activists around the world support each other? What are the potential roles of local communities, democratic regions, and nation-states in collaborating around democracy protection?
- Sam Serey, Khmer Liberation Front
- Léo Juvier-Hendrickx, International Association for Free Cubans
Moderator: Mehdi Ben Mimoun, Democracy International
17:00-17:15 Quick yoga break
Location: Neubad, Pool
Session by Elisabeth Erlandsson Kaufmann
Participants interested in further exploring topics of transnational democracy, can join the excursion to Uster on Friday, where further workshops on the topic will be offered.
18:00-18:30 Evening yoga break
Location: Laboratorium
Session by Elisabeth Erlandsson Kaufmann
18:30-21:00 The Global Forum Networking Evening
Location: Neubad Pool
Brief inputs, reception and democracy fair with exhibition space for different initiatives
"TOUR DE SUISSE" - A SPECIAL DAY FOR THE GLOBAL FORUM
Day excursions and programmes in different Swiss cities including Aarau, Bern, Lucerne and Uster
At the last Forum in 2019 we all boarded the “Taiwan Democracy Train” across the pacific island country. Now, in Switzerland you are most welcome to take various trains and walks – for day excursions to and across Aarau, Berne, Lucerne and Uster
The programmes differ from city to city and include specific elements related to local modern participatory and direct democracy practice. Separate registration was mandatory to participate in one of the excursions. In case additional places open up, the Forum organisers will communicate on this.
Location: University Lucerne
From 8:30 Registration
09:00-10:00 Wrap-up plenary session: Reports from the 4 tracks and the Tour de Suisse
Location: University Luzern, Rudolf Albert Koechlin Auditorium (DE/EN)
Over the past couple of very intense Global Forum days, we’ve discussed many important topics and came to essential insights. In this session, we gather the most pertinent conclusions from the different tracks and formulate a way forward for democracy.
Moderator: Raban Fuhrmann, Academy for a Learning Democracy
10:00-10:30 Three initiatives to move democracy forward
Location: University Luzern, Rudolf Albert Koechlin Auditorium (DE/EN)
Pathways for the future of democracy in France, Switzerland and the World
- Clara Egger, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen - A nationwide organisation to promote direct democracy in France
- Andrew Holland, Director at Mercator Switzerland – “Anstoss Demokratie” a trinational initiative for democracy development
- Dane Waters, Chairman of the Punjab Referendum Commission, Chairman of IRI US and Salman Yunus, New York Lawyer coordinating the first global self organised popular vote - The Global Khalistan referendum.
10:30-12:00 Concluding Plenary Panel: How to Save Democracy
Location: University Luzern, Rudolf Albert Koechlin Auditorium (DE/EN)
Presented by SWI swissinfo.ch
Authoritarianism, fake news, pandemics, war: democracy is in one of its greatest crises since the Second World War. Democracies must become more resilient, say politicians. Only a just democracy is a robust democracy, say activists. They call for "deep inclusion" - the full participation of minorities, the disadvantaged and the young in political processes. Taiwan is exemplary in this regard. But many democracies, including the US and Switzerland, exclude groups.
In the SWI swissinfo.ch debate, experts and activists from four democracies will talk about their experiences of letting people participate and giving them a voice.
Welcome by Larissa M. Bieler (Director) and Introduction by Mark Livingston (Editor in Chief)
- Antonella Valmorbida, Alda European Association for Local Democracy
- Greta Ríos, Ollín
- Sarah Händel, Mehr Demokratie
Moderator: Renat Künzi, SWI swissinfo.ch
12:00-13:00 Concluding Plenary session:
Presentation and adoption of Lucerne Declaration on Modern Democracy and invitation to the 2023 Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy
Location: University Luzern, Rudolf Albert Koechlin Auditorium (DE/EN)
- Joe Mathews, Co-president of the Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy
- Claudia Zavala Pérez, Electoral Councilor of the National Electoral Institute (INE)
- Roberto Heycher Cardiel Soto, Executive Director of Electoral Training and Civic Education (INE)
15:00-15:30 Afternoon yoga break
Location: European Public Sphere, Bahnhofstrasse 5, Lucerne
Session by Elisabeth Erlandsson Kaufmann
16:00-17:30 2022 Democracy City Summit
Towards an International League of Democracy Cities
Location: Lucerne City Hall Kornschütte (DE/EN)
Presented by the City of Lucerne
The first draft of the Magna Charta was developed and agreed upon at the 2018 Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy in Rome, with the strong support of that city’s parliament and of representatives of cities across the globe. The draft, which outlines what it means to be a “democracy city,” has since been circulated around the world, with cities proposing amendments and changes. In its current version, the Magna Charta lists 20 different democracy dimensions at the local level. At the 2022 Democracy City Summit we will hear from participating and interested cities and network organizations, how the local political level can strengthen it’s impact worldwide to make democracy stronger, resilient and participatory.
Welcome and introductions by Lucerne Mayor Beat Züsli and Christian Hochstrasser, president of city parliament.
Contributions from Democracy City representatives
With representatives from Valongo (PT), Nancy (F), Lausanne (CH), León (ES), Amsterdam (NL), Bucharest (RO) and as well as from network organizations and projects like the European Capital of Democracy (ECoD), the European Association for Local Democracy (Alda) and United Cities and Local Governments
- Christian Hochstrasser, Lucerne (CH)
- Yilmaz Bora, Nancy (FR)
- Thomas Scuderi, Nancy (FR)
- Cataldo Madera, Nancy (FR)
- Antonella Valmorbida, ALDA European Association for Local Democracy
- Niesco Dubbelboer, Amsterdam (NL)
- Silvia Nadjivan, European Capital of Democracy
- Helfried Carl, European Capital of Democracy
- Damien Wirth, Lausanne (CH)
- Beat Züsli, Lucerne (CH)
- Torcato Ferreira, Valongo (PT)
- Nicanor Pastrana Castaño, Léon (ES)
- Corina Iacob, Bucharest (RO)
- Horia Tomescu, Bucharest (RO)
- Arturo Flores, Anahuac University Mexico
Signing ceremony of the Magna Charta for an International League of Democracy Cities.
Moderator: Bruno Kaufmann, Co-president Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy
18:00 Come Together – a last night in Lucerne
Location: City Hall Brewery, Unter der Egg 2, Lucerne
Join us for drinks and a snack in the historic brewery in the basement of Lucerne City Hall.
Sponsored by City Hall Brewery
Decision Day
On this national voting day, the third of the year 2022, eligible Swiss citizens head to the polls to decide on local, cantonal and national issues. Forum participants can follow the vote and analysis of the results at different locations.
Voting Observation (upon advance registration only)
Meeting Point in front of the Stadthaus, Hirschengraben 17, Lucerne
09:20 Welcome by Adrian Schmid
09:30 The procedure of the current votes
Introduction by Thomas Zumbühl, Head of Elections and Voting.
09:40 Visit to the "Heiliggeistkapelle" polling station
Explanation of the counting procedure.
German-language programme
Location: Marianischer Saal, Lucerne
10:30-10:40 Welcome by the President of the Cantonal Council, Rolf Born
10:40-11:30 Performance by the Lucerne Theaterkids – “Fought like a Lion”
12:15-14:00 Results and analysis (EN)
Results of the Global Forum participants vote, followed by the first projections and analysis of the results of the national, cantonal and municipal votes.
English-language programme
Location: European Public Sphere, Bahnhofstrasse 5, Lucerne
10:30 Opening of the 2022 Global Forum Ballot Box and counting of the votes
12:15-14:00 Results and analysis
Marianischer Saal, Bahnhofstrasse 18, Lucerne
Results of the Global Forum participants vote, followed by the first projections and analysis of the results of the national, cantonal and municipal votes.
Find all the information on the vote with our partners at Swissinfo here.
The end of the 2022 Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy, see you all soon again in Mexico City!
