posted ago by CrazyRussian ago by CrazyRussian +7 / -0

In Russia, in 2000s was one interesting initiative to add and article in Constitution about elected authorities liability to the voters. Shortly, idea was very simple. At the end of the term, during elections of new president/representative/governor/mayor/whatever, voters also judge the work of previous one. If majority voted that their life become better, the previously elected person get a reward for the good job and could be elected again if want to. If majority voted that nothing changed, then elected person just leave the office or participate in elections again. If majority voted that life become worse, then elected person go to jail for the same time he was in office, with confiscation of all assets gained during last term.

At the time, there was possible to change the Constitution only via the referendum. It was allowed to start referendums on any questions if your initiative group collected enough signatures (half million, IIRC) from citizens.

But as soon as above initiative get necessary number of signatures to start referendum, referendums in Russia was nearly prohibited (now we could start referendums only for some insignificant questions, and only after authorisation from authorities), people lost the right to change Constitution (only president or senate could do it), the initiative group and signature collectors was declared "extremist/terrorist organization" and sued, even the idea of elected authorities liability itself was declared extremist, i.e. illegal to share and promote.

So, the attempt to do something really useful in absolutely legal way completely failed in Russia, but proved that Russian authorities explicitly deny any responsibility for anything to the voters.

So, it is interesting, if there any country where authorities really liable before their voters for everything they promise and do after election.

PS: Initiative group was named AVN - Armia Voli Naroda, Army of Will of Nation(People). Interesting, does anybody abroad ever heard anything about one of most supported and most failed political movement of Russia?