Unidos Podemos Pushes for Revamped Citizen Participation Rules

The local political group, Unidos Podemos, is taking a proactive stance in advocating for a new regulation designed to enhance citizen involvement in municipal affairs. This initiative aims to modernize the existing framework and ensure that local governance is more inclusive and responsive to the needs of the community.

Urgent Need for Modernization in Citizen Engagement

The current Citizen Participation Regulation in La Laguna has been in effect since 1993, a span of over three decades. During this time, the social landscape has evolved significantly, highlighting the urgent need for updates to the regulatory framework. The existing rules no longer adequately reflect contemporary social dynamics or the increasing demand for citizen engagement in local decision-making processes. The proposed regulation seeks to address essential components, including enhancing public participation in municipal plenary sessions, which are crucial for transparent governance.

Prolonged Delays in Finalizing the New Regulation

Despite numerous efforts to advance this initiative, the approval of the new regulation remains pending as of 2023. Idaira Afonso, a councillor representing Unidas Podemos, has pointed out that attempts to amend or establish a new regulation have been ongoing since 2011. Unfortunately, progress has been hindered by various factors, leading to frustration among community members and political stakeholders alike. Afonso has voiced concerns regarding the stagnation of this process, noting that community groups have expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of advancement.

In previous years, a collaborative effort involving numerous neighborhood federations, associations, and political entities contributed to the development of the regulatory document. However, Afonso highlighted that since the beginning of 2023, there has been a conspicuous absence of updates or visible actions toward its approval. She articulated her worries that the new Participation Regulation may not be as inclusive and participatory as it should be. “We have not received any official updates or invitations to engage in the process of finalizing the text,” Afonso stated. “We learned through media reports in July 2025 that the document could be approved by the end of the year, indicating that the issues causing delays might have been resolved. However, as I mentioned, the opposition political formations are not informed about the current status of this process.”

Community Organizations Call for Greater Transparency

The concerns raised by Afonso are echoed by local community organizations, which have also expressed frustration over the lack of information regarding the regulatory process, its final content, and the timeline for when it might be presented for a vote in the Plenary. From the perspective of Unidos Podemos, ensuring access to information and facilitating active participation in the regulatory process is paramount, as was the case in previous iterations of the regulation.

In response to the current circumstances and the inquiries raised by various community and social organizations, Afonso announced that a formal request for a meeting has been submitted to the Citizen Participation department. This meeting aims to provide updates on the draft document’s progress, allowing for collective contributions to create a genuinely participatory tool. Afonso emphasized the necessity of incorporating citizen input in the final stages of the process, stating, “We aspire to bring this document closer to the towns and neighborhoods of the municipality. The future of citizen participation cannot be developed without the involvement of those who should be the main actors: the citizens themselves. Promoting broad and diverse participation will lead to a more effective regulation.”

The push for a revised Citizen Participation Regulation is not just about updating a set of rules; it represents a broader commitment to fostering a culture of engagement and transparency within local governance. By prioritizing citizen involvement, Unidos Podemos aims to create a framework that empowers residents and ensures that their voices are heard in the decision-making processes that affect their lives.

Key points

• The current Citizen Participation Regulation in La Laguna has been in place since 1993.
• Unidos Podemos is advocating for an updated regulation to enhance citizen engagement.
• Attempts to modify the regulation have been ongoing since 2011.
• Idaira Afonso expressed concerns about the lack of progress and transparency in the approval process.
• Community organizations are demanding more information regarding the regulatory updates.
• A formal request for a meeting has been made to discuss the draft document’s status.
• Afonso emphasized the importance of citizen involvement in shaping the new regulation.