ZAGREB, December 28, 2018 – Almost 1,100 citizens contacted the Croatian parliament’s Citizens Service during 2018, for various purposes such as queries, petitions, comments, complaints or suggestions, according to the statistics presented by that office.
Of the 1,081 citizens who contacted the Sabor’s Citizens Service this year, 339 contacts were about specific questions, whereas 742 sent letters or telephoned to make their comments, complaints or suggestions.
The Citizens Services has reported that people contacted them to express their opinions on certain laws, parliamentary debates, the behaviour of lawmakers, party policies etc.
Some of those who contacted the office wanted to ask for assistance or to complain about other state institutions.
Of 339 queries, a third were questions sent directly to members of parliament through web applications.
The Service says that it responds to all those questions and suggestions within 24 hours.
Apart from that form of communication, ordinary citizens can also visit the parliament and thus gain a better insight into the functioning of the national legislature.
This year, 23,500 visitors used the opportunity to visit the parliament within tours organised for a total 576 groups.
The Citizens Service was established “with a view to improve the two-way communication between citizens and the Parliament and in order to assert that the Sabor is committed to openness”.
The service “maintains direct contacts with citizens. It offers answers to citizens’ queries, petitions and letters and organizes visits for citizens wishing to take an inside tour of the Parliament building or to attend plenary sessions. The Service carries out the programme of volunteering in the Parliament and assists schools in implementing civic education curriculum,” according to information on the parliament’s web site.
More news on the Croatian parliament can be found in our Politics section.
