Elections for local community councils in the Municipality of Bugojno have not been held since 2017. For nearly eight years, citizens have not had the opportunity to elect their representatives at the lowest level of government, significantly limiting their participation in decision-making processes that directly affect the quality of life in their local communities.

Local communities represent the most basic form of direct citizen participation in local self-government, and their functioning and election procedures are clearly defined by the Statute of the Municipality of Bugojno. The absence of elections in recent years has led to a situation in which local community councils operate without renewed electoral legitimacy, further hindering communication between citizens and institutions, as well as the effective representation of local community needs.

In the last elections held in 2017, around 10,000 citizens participated across 27 local communities, clearly demonstrating both the interest and the need for citizen involvement in this process. For this reason, reinstating elections represents an important step toward strengthening trust in institutions and improving local democracy.

The association “Youth Center” Bugojno has launched a campaign titled “Choose Your Local Community” with the aim of creating the conditions necessary to once again hold elections for local community councils, in accordance with applicable regulations and in the interest of all citizens. The campaign is focused on fostering constructive dialogue with relevant institutions, as well as actively engaging citizens in processes that shape their everyday lives.

Through public awareness efforts, cooperation with relevant stakeholders, and citizen engagement, the initiative seeks to help create the conditions for holding elections and to strengthen, in the long term, the role of local communities as places where concrete problems faced by citizens are recognized and addressed.

“This is not just a matter of elections—it is a matter of the fundamental right of citizens to participate in decisions about their community. Active local communities also mean more accountable and transparent institutions,” stated representatives of the Youth Center Bugojno.

We invite all citizens, institutional representatives, and media to support this initiative and contribute to strengthening citizen participation in local decision-making processes.

Your voice. Your community.