Inclusion is a prerequisite for democracy
A balanced and well-functioning society is built by strengthening inclusion. Democracy must not be taken for granted. Everyone must have the opportunity to participate in building the society on all its levels. The possibility to influence decision-making and to present one's views are at the core of democracy. New forms should be developed for grass-roots democracy and participation.
Democracy and the vitality of the civil society must be valued. The democratic system is under threat everywhere in the world. A free, vibrant civil society, a functioning electoral system, direct involvement of citizens, and openness of information and communication are vital conditions for democracy to remain strong and stable also in the future.
Voter turnouts have been declining and inclusion has been unevenly distributed for a long time already. The participation of older people and people who are wealthier, with higher education and otherwise better-off is higher than that of others and, according to studies, this is clearly visible also in the content of policy. What has been particularly worrying for several elections now, is that differences in voter turnout between different residential areas have increased.
In the next parliamentary term, SDP seeks significant actions to strengthen democracy. These would include, for example, a campaign limit for elections, which would set maximum limits in euros for election campaigns, as well as active measures to increase voter turnout.
We need a broad democracy programme for Finland, which would include actions to strengthen democracy with regard to education for democracy, lowering the threshold of voting, and facilitating political action alike.
The functioning and preconditions of civil society must be safeguarded. Without an active and autonomous civil society and the activity it generates, the Finnish society and democracy will not function.
The citizen’s initiative process should be strengthened. SDP wants that, in the future, Committees produce a report that either states the next steps or justifies why the initiative is rejected. Also, citizen’s initiatives should not lapse at the end of the government term.
A so-called debate initiative will be launched on the municipal, regional, parliamentary, and EU levels. With the debate initiative, citizens, having collected the set number of supporters, have the opportunity to bring matters or questions to the topical debate of decision-makers. The right to the citizen’s initiative and the debate initiative should be extended also to those 16 to 18 years of age.