The long-standing issue of the failure to hold elections for the councils of local communities in the Municipality of Bugojno, as well as the need to once again enable citizens to directly participate in electing their representatives at the local level, were the focus of the Citizens’ Forum held last night at the premises of the Youth Center Bugojno.

During the forum, particular emphasis was placed on the importance of local communities as the basic form of direct citizen participation in local self-governance, as well as the need to once again enable citizens, after almost eight years, to elect their representatives at the lowest level of government.

The Citizens’ Forum was organized by the Association “Youth Center” Bugojno within the initiative “Choose Your Local Community.” The forum brought together citizens from the local communities of Vesela, Vrbas 1, Bristovi, Gračanica, Crniče–Vrpeć, Novo Naselje, Centar 1, and Centar 2, who had the opportunity to learn about the current situation regarding elections for local community councils, as well as to present their proposals, views, and suggestions through an open discussion.

Forum participants pointed to the need to strengthen communication between citizens and institutions, as well as the importance of more active citizen involvement in decision-making processes that directly affect the quality of life in local communities.

It was particularly emphasized that elections for local community councils in Bugojno have not been held since 2017, which is why citizens have been unable for years to elect their representatives and actively participate in setting priorities in their communities.

“Local communities should be a place where citizens can clearly express their needs and problems. Without elections and active citizen participation, it is difficult to speak about genuine representation of the interests of the local community,” it was stated during the forum.

The citizens’ suggestions and proposals will be systematized in the form of conclusions, which will be submitted in the coming period to the Municipality of Bugojno and the Collegium of the Municipal Council of Bugojno, with the aim of initiating concrete activities to create conditions for holding elections for local community councils.