UMS Rejects Simplistic Labelling of Local Governments in Districts as Failures

Bratislava, 2 February (TASR) - The Slovak Towns Union (UMS) agrees with Ombudsman Robert Dobrovodsky that equality of votes is a fundamental constitutional principle and a key prerequisite for people to trust in local democracy, but the solution to this systemic problem shouldn't be a simplistic labelling of "local government failures," but clear rules and guidelines from the state, said UMS in a statement on Monday. UMS was responding to the results of a survey on the determination of electoral districts and a submission to the Constitutional Court prior to this year's municipal elections. "The Union respects the role of the ombudsman. However, if a systemic problem is confirmed, the solution isn't to simply label it as a 'failure of local government', but to establish clear, uniform and enforceable rules and methodological guidelines on the part of the state," said UMS in the statement provided to TASR by its spokesperson Daniela Pirselova. UMS will comment on this issue in more detail after a thorough analysis of the survey results. However, it also declared that it's prepared to cooperate with the Ombudsman's Office and the relevant state authorities in an effort to standardise the methodology and prepare practical guidelines for towns. According to the union, the common goals are fair elections, equal voting rights, and strengthening trust in local democracy. Ombudsman Robert Dobrovodsky on Monday presented the results of an extensive survey on compliance with the equality of voting rights. According to him, it showed that local and regional authorities have set their electoral districts in an unconstitutional manner. In the case of Bratislava, he filed an appeal with the Constitutional Court last week. The survey included all eight self-governing regions and 34 cities and towns across Slovakia, with four municipalities from each region. am/df