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F om pa isanship o nonpa isanship. A s udy o
egional elec ions in Slo akia in 2001-2022
Ewelina Kancik-Koł un
The a icle examines he impac o pa y and non-pa y ep esen a ion on local go e nance
in Slo akia in he yea s 2001-2022. Regional elec ions o sel -go e ning egions play a key
ole in shaping local poli ics. The s udy ocuses on unde s anding how changes in he
poli ical s uc u e o local go e nmen s a ec local poli ics and he quali y o li e o esiden s.
The hypo hesis is ha an inc ease in he numbe o non-pa y ep esen a i es leads o a mo e
di e se ep esen a ion and be e coope a ion. Analysis o s a is ical da a om elec ions
shows a dec ease in he le el o poli iciza ion and an inc ease in he numbe o independen
ep esen a i es. The esul s indica e g ea e anspa ency and accoun abili y in he
managemen o local a ai s in egions wi h a la ge numbe o independen ep esen a i es.
The inc ease in he numbe o independen ep esen a i es con ibu ed o a dec ease in
poli ical con lic s and a g ea e in ol emen o ci izens.
In oduc ion
Local go e nmen is one o he mos impo an ins i u ions in
democ a ic coun ies, especially a e he poli ical ans o ma ion in
1989, when adminis a i e e o ms aimed o decen alize powe ,
which enabled he ebi h o sel -go e nmen and he de elopmen o
local democ acy1. Regional elec ions o he eplacemen o sel -
go e ning coun ies play a key ole in shaping local poli ics and ha e
a di ec impac on he li es o esiden s. Ci izen in ol emen in
democ a ic elec ions is ex emely impo an , because e e yone has he
oppo uni y o bo h elec hei ep esen a i es and be elec ed2. Thanks
o his, esiden s can ac i ely pa icipa e in he decision-making
p ocess, in luencing he de elopmen o hei local communi y.
1 KANCIK-KOŁTUN, E.: Ws ęp. In: KANCIK-KOŁTUN, E.; SMOLIK, J.; FEKETE, S.;
RADEK, M.: Local Go e nmen in he Viseg ad G oup Coun ies. Lublin: Ma ia Cu ie-
Skłodowska Publishing House, 2020, s. 8.
2 MADLEŇÁK, T.: Regionálna di e enciácia olebného sp á ania na Slo ensku (1998–2010).
B a isla a: Veda, 2012, s. 11.
h ps://doi.o g/10.33542/KKD-0453-8-15
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Va ious poli ical en i ies pa icipa e in he s uggle o powe , which
ha e di e en isions o he de elopmen o sel -go e ning coun ies
and i s managemen . Gene ally, wo ypes o poli ical en i ies can be
dis inguished: poli ical pa ies and independen local g oups3.
Poli ical pa ies a e o ganiza ions ha seek o shape policy a he
na ional o local le el, illing posi ions wi h hei membe s and
ep esen ing he di e se in e es s o social g oups ha suppo hem4.
A non-pa isan poli ician is a pe son who does no belong o any
poli ical pa y and is a candida e pu o wa d by a non-pa isan
elec ion commi ee. In he con ex o local go e nmen , he
pa isanship and non-pa isanship o ep esen a i es play an
impo an ole in managemen and decision-making. The
ep esen a i e body o he sel -go e ning egion (zas upi eľs o
samosp á neho k aja) is a body composed o councillo s (poslanco )
elec ed in ee, democ a ic elec ions5.
Councillo s o egional go e nmen o en ep esen he in e es s o
hei poli ical pa ies, which can a ec he way esou ces a e alloca ed,
in es men p io i ies and he implemen a ion o local policies. In u n,
non-pa isan depu ies, who a e no a ilia ed wi h any poli ical pa y,
can ac mo e o he common good, which p omo es g ea e
anspa ency and accoun abili y in he managemen o local a ai s.
The esea ch p oblem is o unde s and how he pa isanship and
non-pa isanship o ep esen a i es a ec local go e nance in
Slo akia o e a long pe iod o ime. In pa icula , i is in e es ing o
see how changes in he poli ical s uc u e o local go e nmen s
3 KANCIK-KOŁTUN, E.: Pa yjność władz miejskich: case s udy.In: Ac a Poli ica Polonica. N
2/2018, (44), s. 54.
4 WARE, A.: Poli ical Pa ies and Pa y sys ems. Ox o d: Ox o d Uni e si y P ess. 1996, s.
5.
5 ČAMBAL, Z.: Vply poli ických s án na egionálne oľbe slo enskej epublikę. In: VLČEJ,
J. (ed.): Ako olili Slo áci poli icky y oj slo enskej epubliky období 1989-2016. B no: T ibu
EU, 2016, s. 114.
h ps://doi.o g/10.33542/KKD-0453-8-15
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esul ing om elec ions shape local poli ics and he quali y o li e o
esiden s. The esea ch hypo hesis assumes ha he inc ease in he
numbe o non-pa isan MPs leads o a g ea e di e si y o
ep esen a ion, be e coope a ion be ween councilo s and mo e
e ec i e managemen o local esou ces. In o de o e i y he
hypo hesis, a a ie y o esea ch me hods will be used. Analysis o
s a is ical da a om he elec ions o he eplacemen sel -go e nmen
egions in Slo akia in he yea s 2001-2022 allows o unde s anding
he key ends and changes in he poli ical s uc u e o local
go e nmen s. A signi ican dec ease in he le el o poli iciza ion was
obse ed in he pe iod unde s udy, which means an inc ease in he
numbe o independen councilo s in ela ion o pa y councilo s.
Analysis o local elec ion esul s om 2001 o 2022
Elec ions a e he ounda ion o local democ acy, allowing ci izens
o elec hei ep esen a i es, who make decisions abou he daily
a ai s o he communi y. An example o pa icipa ion among
esiden s can be pa icipa ion in making elec o al decisions, which is
undoub edly one o he signs o he exis ence o a ci il socie y6. Thanks
o local elec ions, esiden s ha e he oppo uni y o in luence local
poli ics, which allows o be e adjus men o he au ho i ies' ac ions
o hei needs and expec a ions. In his way, esiden s can di ec ly
in luence he quali y o li e in hei communi y.
Local elec ions also s eng hen ci il socie y, p omo ing ac i e
in ol emen o ci izens in decision-making p ocesses. They allow
esiden s o exp ess hei opinions and needs, which leads o g ea e
anspa ency and accoun abili y o local au ho i ies. Thanks o his,
ci izens can be e con ol he ac ions o hei ep esen a i es and
en o ce he implemen a ion o elec ion p omises. I is wo h no ing
6 CZEŚNIAK, M.: Pa ycypacja wybo cza w Polsce. Pe spek ywa po ównawcza. Wa szawa:
Wydawnic wo Nauko we Schola , 2007, s. 100.
h ps://doi.o g/10.33542/KKD-0453-8-15
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ha he p ocess o dec easing pa y a ilia ion in local go e nmen s,
obse ed in ecen yea s, may con ibu e o e en g ea e ci izen
in ol emen and imp o emen o he quali y o local go e nance.
Independen councillo s, being less ied o pa isan in e es s, can ac
mo e o he common good, which p omo es be e coope a ion
be ween councillo s and mo e e ec i e decision-making.
Elec ions ha e a signi ican impac on local decisions and
go e nance, as hey selec ep esen a i es who make key decisions
abou he communi y. Fo example, as a esul o local elec ions, local
au ho i ies can decide on budge alloca ion, in es men in
in as uc u e, educa ion o heal h ca e. Elec ions also a ec policies
ela ed o en i onmen al p o ec ion, public anspo and spa ial
planning.
Table 1. Pa isanship and non-pa isanship in he 2001 egional elec ions.
Sel -go e ning
egion
Non-pa y
depu ies/
Councillo s
Pa y
depu ies/
Councillo s
Numbe
o
depu ies
Pe cen age o
poli icisa ion
B a isla ský 1 45 46 98%
T na ský 0 40 40 100%
T enčiansky 0 45 45 100%
Ni iansky 0 52 52 100%
Žilinský 3 49 52 94%
Banskobys ický 1 48 49 98%
P ešo ský 5 55 60 91%
Košický 8 49 57 86%
In o al 18 383 401 96%
Sou ce: SO SR: Voľby do o gáno samosp á nych k ajo 2001. [online].
Dos upné online:
<h ps:// olby.s a is ics.sk/osk/osk2001/webda a/slo / ab/ ab2.h
m>.
h ps://doi.o g/10.33542/KKD-0453-8-15
293
The i s elec ions o sel -go e nmen bodies o he egions in
Slo akia we e held on Decembe 1, 2001.7 When analyzing he elec ion
esul s, in he B a isla ský egion he e was one independen depu y
and 45 pa y depu ies, which ga e a o al o 46 depu ies, and he
pe cen age o poli iciza ion was 98%. In he T na ský egion he e
we e no independen depu ies, and all 40 depu ies we e pa y
depu ies, which mean 100% poli iciza ion. Simila ly, in he
T enčiansky egion, whe e all 45 depu ies we e pa y depu ies, which
also ga e 100% poli iciza ion. In he Ni iansky egion, all 52 depu ies
we e pa y depu ies, which ga e 100% poli iciza ion. In he Žilina
egion he e we e h ee independen depu ies and 49 pa y depu ies,
which ga e a o al o 52 depu ies and he pe cen age o poli iciza ion
poli iciza ion a e o 94%. In he Banskobys ický egion he e was one
independen MP and 48 pa y MPs, which ga e a o al o 49 MPs and
a poli iciza ion a e o 98%. In he P ešo ský egion he e we e i e
independen MPs and 55 pa y MPs, which ga e a o al o 60 MPs and
a poli iciza ion a e o 91%. In he Košický egion he e we e eigh
independen MPs and 49 pa y MPs, which ga e a o al o 57 MPs and
a poli iciza ion a e o 86%. In o al, in he analyzed egions he e we e
18 independen MPs and 383 pa y MPs, which ga e a o al o 401 MPs
and an a e age poli iciza ion a e o 96%. The analysis o he esul s o
he local elec ions o 2001 showed ha mos egions we e
cha ac e ized by a e y high le el o poli iciza ion, whe e he majo i y
o depu ies we e ep esen a i es o poli ical pa ies. In he T na ský,
T enčiansky and Ni iansky egions, all depu ies we e pa y membe s,
which mean 100% poli iciza ion. In he Žilina egion, despi e he
p esence o h ee independen depu ies, he pe cen age o
7 BARAŃSKI, M.; CZYŻ, A.; KUBAS, S.; RAJCZAK, R.: Wybo y, p awo wybo cze, sys emy
wybo cze w pańs wach G upy Wyszeh adzkiej. Ka owice: Wydawnic wo Uniwe sy e u
Śląskiego, 2016, s. 133.
h ps://doi.o g/10.33542/KKD-0453-8-15
294
poli iciza ion was 94%. The Banskobys ický and B a isla ský egions
had 98% poli iciza ion, espec i ely, wi h one independen depu y in
each. The P ešo ský and Košický egions had a sligh ly lowe
pe cen age o poli iciza ion, a 91% and 86%, espec i ely, which was
due o he la ge numbe o independen depu ies. The a e age
pe cen age o poli iciza ion o all egions was 96%, which sugges ed
he dominance o poli ical pa ies in local go e nmen s. The low
numbe o independen MPs could be due o he dominance o
poli ical pa ies, low o e u nou , lack o public in e es , elec o al
mechanisms ha a o pa ies, and limi ed agency o MPs. These
esul s sugges ed ha poli ical pa ies played a dominan ole in local
go e nmen s, which could a ec he way decisions we e made and
local policies we e implemen ed.
The low numbe o independen MPs could be due o se e al
easons:
• Dominance o poli ical pa ies: Poli ical pa ies end o ha e
be e esou ces, o ganiza ional s uc u es, and inancial suppo ,
which makes i easie o hem o campaign and win sea s.
Independen candida es o en do no ha e such esou ces, which
makes i di icul o hem o compe e wi h pa ies.
• Low o e u nou : Elec ions o dis ic councils and o he local
bodies o en a ac low o e in e es . Low u nou can lead o a
si ua ion in which only he mos o ganized and mo i a ed g oups,
such as poli ical pa ies, a e able o e ec i ely mobilize hei o e s. •
Lack o public in e es : Declining public in e es in ci ic ac i i y,
including unning o MP, can lead o ewe independen candida es.
Many people may no see he poin in ge ing in ol ed in local poli ics,
especially i hey eel ha hei in luence on decisions is limi ed.
• Elec o al mechanisms: Exis ing elec o al laws and candida e
selec ion mechanisms can a o poli ical pa ies. Fo example, he
possibili y o deciding elec ions wi hou a o e in he absence o
h ps://doi.o g/10.33542/KKD-0453-8-15
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compe i ion can lead o a si ua ion in which poli ical pa ies ha e an
ad an age.
• Low agency o MPs: In some cases, he limi ed compe ences and
in luence o MPs on local decisions can discou age independen
candida es om unning in elec ions. I MPs ha e no eal in luence on
local poli ics, unning may seem less a ac i e.
These ac o s oge he can lead o a si ua ion in which he numbe
o independen MPs is low and poli ical pa ies domina e local
go e nmen bodies.
Table 2. Pa isanship and non-pa isanship in he 2005 egional elec ions.
Sel -go e ning
egion
Non-pa y
depu ies/
councillo s
Pa y
depu ies/
councillo s
Numbe
o
depu ies
Pe cen age o
poli icisa ion
B a isla ský 2 48 50 96%
T na ský 5 35 40 87%
T enčiansky 3 42 45 93%
Ni iansky 0 52 52 100%
Žilinský 5 52 57 81%
Banskobys ický 5 44 49 90%
P ešo ský 12 50 62 81%
Košický 7 50 57 88%
In o al
39 353 412 91%
Sou ce: SO SR: Voľby do o gáno samosp á nych k ajo 2005. [online].
Dos upné na in e ne e: <h ps:// olby.s a is ics.sk/osk/osk2005/>.
In he 2005 local elec ions, in he B a isla ský egion he e we e wo
independen councilo s and 48 pa y councilo s, o a o al o 50
councilo s, and he pe cen age o poli iciza ion was 96%. In he
T na ský egion he e we e i e independen councilo s and 35 pa y
councilo s, o a o al o 40 councilo s, and he pe cen age o
poli iciza ion was 87%. In he T enčiansky egion he e we e h ee
independen councilo s and 42 pa y councilo s, o a o al o 45
h ps://doi.o g/10.33542/KKD-0453-8-15
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councilo s, and he pe cen age o poli iciza ion was 93%. In he
Ni iansky egion all 52 councilo s we e pa y councilo s, o a o al o
100%. In he Žilinský egion he e we e i e independen councilo s
and 52 pa y councilo s, o a o al o 57 councilo s, and he pe cen age
o poli iciza ion was 81%. In he Banskobys ický egion, he e we e
i e independen councilo s and 44 pa y councilo s, which ga e a
o al o 49 councilo s, and he poli iciza ion pe cen age was 90%. In
he P ešo ský egion, he e we e wel e independen councilo s and
50 pa y councilo s, which ga e a o al o 62 councilo s, and he
poli iciza ion pe cen age was 81%. In he Košický egion, he e we e
se en independen councilo s and 50 pa y councilo s, which ga e a
o al o 57 councilo s, and he poli iciza ion pe cen age was 88%. In
o al, in he analyzed egions, he e we e 39 independen councilo s
and 353 pa y councilo s, which ga e a o al o 412 councilo s and an
a e age poli iciza ion pe cen age o 91%.
The low numbe o independen councilo s could be due o he
dominance o poli ical pa ies, which had be e esou ces,
o ganiza ional s uc u es and inancial suppo , which made i easie
o hem o conduc elec ion campaigns and win sea s. Independen
candida es o en did no ha e such esou ces, which made i di icul
o hem o compe e wi h pa ies. Low o e u nou may ha e led o
a si ua ion in which only he mos o ganized and mo i a ed g oups,
such as poli ical pa ies, we e able o e ec i ely mobilize hei o e s.
The lack o public in e es in ci ic ac i i y, including unning o
council, may ha e led o ewe independen candida es. The
applicable elec o al law and candida e selec ion mechanisms may
ha e a o ed poli ical pa ies. The limi ed compe ences and in luence
o councilo s on local decisions may ha e discou aged independen
candida es om unning in he elec ions.
h ps://doi.o g/10.33542/KKD-0453-8-15
297
Table 3. Pa isanship and non-pa isanship in he 2009 egional elec ions.
Sel -go e ning
egion
Non-pa y
depu ies/
councillo s
Pa y
depu ies/
councillo s
Numbe
o
depu ies
Pe cen age o
poli icisa ion
B a isla ský 1 43 44 98%
T na ský 6 34 40 85%
T enčiansky 10 35 45 78%
Ni iansky 3 51 54 94%
Žilinský 11 46 57 81%
Banskobys ický 5 44 49 90%
P ešo ský 6 56 62 91%
Košický 13 44 57 77%
In o al
55 353 408 87%
Sou ce: SO SR: Voľby do o gáno samosp á nych k ajo 2009. [online].
Dos upné na in e ne e: <h ps:// olby.s a is ics.sk/osk/osk2009/>.
In he 2009 local elec ions, in he B a isla ský egion he e was one
independen councilo and 43 pa y councilo s, o a o al o 44
councilo s, and he pe cen age o poli iciza ion was 98%. In he
T na ský egion he e we e six independen councilo s and 34 pa y
councilo s, o a o al o 40 councilo s, and he pe cen age o
poli iciza ion was 85%. In he T enčiansky egion he e we e en
independen councilo s and 35 pa y councilo s, o a o al o 45
councilo s, and he pe cen age o poli iciza ion was 78%. In he
Ni iansky egion he e we e h ee independen councilo s and 51
pa y councilo s, o a o al o 54 councilo s, and he pe cen age o
poli iciza ion was 94%. In he Žilinský egion he e we e ele en
independen councilo s and 46 pa y councilo s, o a o al o 57
councilo s, and he pe cen age o poli iciza ion was 81%. In he
Banskobys ický egion he e we e i e independen councilo s and
44 pa y councilo s, which ga e a o al o 49 councilo s, and he
pe cen age o poli iciza ion was 90%. In he P ešo ský egion he e
we e six independen councilo s and 56 pa y councilo s, which ga e
h ps://doi.o g/10.33542/KKD-0453-8-15
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E en in he yea s when he numbe o independen councilo s
inc eased, poli ical pa ies s ill domina ed in mos egions. Ni iansky
and P ešo ský egions showed a high pe cen age o poli iciza ion in
all yea s, which sugges s a s ong dominance o poli ical pa ies in
hese egions. The la ges di e ences can be seen in he B a isla ský
egion, whe e he pe cen age o poli iciza ion ell om 98% in 2001 o
50% in 2017, and hen ose o 75% in 2022. The Žilina egion also
showed signi ican a iabili y, wi h a pe cen age o poli iciza ion o
94% in 2001, alling o 47% in 2022. Regions such as T na ský and
T enčiansky had mo e s able esul s, wi h smalle luc ua ions in he
pe cen age o poli iciza ion. In all yea s, ega dless o he egion,
poli ical pa ies had a signi ican ad an age o e independen
councilo s. E en in yea s when he numbe o independen councilo s
inc eased, poli ical pa ies s ill domina ed in mos egions. Local
elec ions in di e en yea s showed simila pa e ns, wi h egions wi h
a highe pe cen age o poli iciza ion ending o main ain his end in
subsequen yea s. Regions wi h a highe numbe o independen
councillo s in one yea o en showed simila esul s in subsequen
elec ions, sugges ing some s abili y in o e p e e ences. The esul s o
local elec ions om 2001 o 2022 ha e had a posi i e impac on he
unc ioning o local go e nmen s, leading o g ea e di e si y o
ep esen a ion, anspa ency, coope a ion, educed poli ical con lic ,
ci izen in ol emen and inno a i e changes in local poli ics. The
du abili y o he decline in poli icisa ion in local go e nmen s
depends on a numbe o ac o s ha can in luence long- e m changes
in he poli ical s uc u e. Inc eased ci ic awa eness and social
in ol emen can lead o mo e independen candida es and a
con inua ion o he end o dec easing poli icisa ion. Elec o al
e o ms ha make i easie o independen candida es o un can also
con ibu e o he du abili y o his end. Long- e m demog aphic
h ps://doi.o g/10.33542/KKD-0453-8-15
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changes, such as popula ion ageing o mig a ion, can a ec o ing
p e e ences and encou age he elec ion o independen candida es.
Social media play an inc easingly impo an ole in elec ion
campaigns, allowing independen candida es o each a wide ange o
o e s wi hou ha ing o ha e la ge inancial esou ces, which can
suppo he du abili y o he decline in poli icisa ion. Poli ical and
economic s abili y can also a ec o ing p e e ences. Howe e , in
imes o c isis, o e s may g a i a e owa ds mo e o ganized poli ical
pa ies, which could e e se his end. The g ow h o local ini ia i es
and ci ic mo emen s ha p omo e ci ic engagemen and independen
candida es could con ibu e o he du abili y o he decline in
poli iciza ion. These ini ia i es o en ocus on speci ic local issues,
which can a ac o e s. In summa y, he du abili y o he decline in
poli iciza ion in local go e nmen s depends on many a iables,
including ci ic awa eness, elec o al e o ms, demog aphic changes,
he ole o social media, poli ical s abili y, and local ci ic ini ia i es. I
hese ac o s suppo he elec ion o independen candida es, he end
o declining poli iciza ion could con inue.
The esul s o local elec ions om 2001 o 2022 ha e had a
signi ican impac on he unc ioning o local go e nmen s. The
inc ease in he numbe o independen councillo s in ecen yea s has
con ibu ed o a g ea e di e si y o ep esen a ion in local
go e nmen s. Independen councillo s o en ep esen ed di e en
social g oups and in e es s, which led o a mo e comp ehensi e
app oach o local p oblems. Independen councillo s we e pe cei ed
as less ied o pa isan in e es s, which could lead o g ea e
anspa ency and accoun abili y in he managemen o local a ai s.
They could ac mo e o he common good and less o pa isan
in e es s. The educed dominance o poli ical pa ies encou aged
be e coope a ion be ween councillo s. Independen councillo s we e
mo e willing o coope a e ac oss pa y lines, which led o mo e
h ps://doi.o g/10.33542/KKD-0453-8-15
306
e ec i e decision-making. The dec ease in poli icisa ion led o ewe
poli ical con lic s in local go e nmen s. Fewe pa isan dispu es
encou aged mo e cons uc i e deba e and a ocus on sol ing local
p oblems. The g ea e p esence o independen councillo s
encou aged ci izens o become mo e in ol ed in local a ai s.
Independen councillo s we e o en close o hei o e s and could
be e ep esen hei in e es s, which inc eased us in local
go e nmen s. Inc easing he numbe o independen councillo s led
o changes in local poli ics. Independen councillo s in oduced new
ideas and ini ia i es ha would no ha e been possible wi hin
adi ional pa y s uc u es. The esul s o local elec ions om 2001 o
2022 had a posi i e impac on he unc ioning o local go e nmen s,
leading o g ea e di e si y o ep esen a ion, anspa ency,
coope a ion, educed poli ical con lic s, ci izen in ol emen and
inno a i e changes in local poli ics.
Thus, he p esen ed esul s o local elec ions had a signi ican
impac on bo h ci il socie y and local go e nance. The inc ease in he
numbe o independen councillo s con ibu ed o a g ea e di e si y
o ep esen a ion in local go e nmen s, which allowed o be e
conside a ion o he in e es s o di e en social g oups. Independen
councillo s, being less ied o pa y in e es s, could ac mo e o he
common good, which inc eased anspa ency and accoun abili y in
he managemen o local a ai s. The educed dominance o poli ical
pa ies encou aged be e coope a ion be ween councillo s, which led
o mo e e ec i e decision-making and educed poli ical con lic s. The
inc eased p esence o independen councillo s encou aged ci izens o
become mo e in ol ed in local a ai s, which inc eased us in local
go e nmen and p omo ed ci ic pa icipa ion. Changes in local
poli ics in oduced by independen councillo s o en ocused on
speci ic local issues, which a ac ed o e s and s eng hened ci il
socie y. I is wo h no ing ha his p ocess o de-pa isanisa ion could
h ps://doi.o g/10.33542/KKD-0453-8-15
307
be sus ainable i ci il socie y con inues o g ow s onge and elec o al
e o ms a ou independen candida es. In summa y, he esul s o
local elec ions had a posi i e impac on local go e nance and ci il
socie y, leading o g ea e di e si y, anspa ency, coope a ion,
educed poli ical con lic , ci izen in ol emen and inno a i e changes
in local poli ics.
Conclusion
The analysis o he esul s o local elec ions in Slo akia in he yea s
2001-2022 con i ms he esea ch hypo hesis ha he inc ease in he
numbe o non-pa isan councilo s leads o a g ea e di e si y o
ep esen a ion, be e coope a ion be ween councilo s and mo e
e ec i e managemen o local esou ces. The esea ch esul s show
ha in egions whe e he numbe o independen councilo s
inc eased, g ea e anspa ency and accoun abili y in he managemen
o local a ai s was obse ed. Independen councilo s, being less ied
o pa y in e es s, could ac mo e o he common good, which
p omo ed be e coope a ion and mo e e ec i e decision-making.
The inc ease in he numbe o independen councilo s also
con ibu ed o a dec ease in poli ical con lic s in local go e nmen s
and g ea e in ol emen o ci izens in local a ai s. Independen
councilo s o en ep esen ed di e en social g oups and in e es s,
which led o a mo e comp ehensi e app oach o local p oblems. The
inc ease in he numbe o independen councilo s also led o he
in oduc ion o new ideas and ini ia i es ha would no be possible
wi hin he amewo k o adi ional pa y s uc u es.
The impo ance o his p oblem lies in he ac ha he poli ical
s uc u e o local go e nmen s has a di ec impac on he quali y o li e
o esiden s. Unde s anding how he pa isanship and impa iali y o
ep esen a i es a ec local go e nance allows o be e adap a ion o
go e nmen ac i i ies o he needs o he communi y. An inc ease in
h ps://doi.o g/10.33542/KKD-0453-8-15
308
he numbe o independen councilo s can lead o mo e e ec i e
go e nance, g ea e anspa ency and accoun abili y, which in u n
imp o es he quali y o li e o esiden s.
In summa y, he esul s o local elec ions in Slo akia in he yea s
2001-2022 indica e a posi i e impac o he inc ease in he numbe o
independen councilo s on he unc ioning o local go e nmen s. An
inc ease in he di e si y o ep esen a ion, be e coope a ion be ween
councilo s and mo e e ec i e managemen o local esou ces a e key
bene i s esul ing om his p ocess. Unde s anding hese
ela ionships is impo an o he u he de elopmen o local
democ acy and imp o ing he quali y o li e o esiden s.
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