The session simulation, co-organised by the National Assembly, Centre for Research, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA) and the Belgrade City Assembly was held at the city hall.

At the beginning of the simulation, the young people were addressed by National Assembly Deputy Speaker Prof. Dr Vladimir Marinkovic and the Head of the Serbian Progressive Party Parliamentary Group Zoran Babic, as well as the Deputy Chairperson of the City Assembly Andrea Radulovic and City Manager Goran Vesic.

Babic told the young people that he accepted the invitation to open the session simulation with great pleasure and he came wishing to encourage them in the fight for their rights.

“When I was young I promised myself that I will never tell young people: “your time is yet to come”. This is your time, seize it with both hands. Always push yourself, the society and your associates for more, because you are the force that will change the world”, said Babic.

He said that the chief objective of the “Week of Parliamentarism” is to teach the citizens about the National Assembly’s work. He reminded the participants that the National Assembly had fully implemented e-Parliament so as to foster stronger ties with the citizens and promote transparency, and two years ago made it possible for the citizens to follow its sessions and the sessions of its committees live, in real time. “We want to show you that the National Assembly House is not just the MPs’ house, but the house and home of all the citizens”, said Babic.

In his address, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Prof. Dr Vladimir Marinkovic pointed out the importance of including all the social elements in the decision-making process, both at the level of the republic and at the local level, at the same time hoping that programmes such as the National Assembly session simulations would prompt young people to take more part in the democratic processes and the making of decisions that shape their future as well.

Deputy Chairperson of the City Assembly Andrea Radulovic greeted the participants of the session simulation saying that the key goal of today’s event is to promote openness, democracy and a new political culture.

“We wish to guarantee the citizens that all their needs will be met at the local level, and inclusion of young people is especially important because they bring new energy, new ideas and new approaches to problem solving”, said Radulovic.

City Manager Goran Vesic said that the “Week of Parliamentarism” is the right way to familiarise the citizens with the decision-making process and introduce them to the Assembly’s modus operandi, which, he stressed, is the very essence of parliamentarism.

Besides the councillors of the City Assembly, the session simulation was also attended by MPs Dusica Stojkovic and Mirjana Andric.