CHARACTERISTICS OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT IN SERBIA WITH THE OVERVIEW OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AUTHORITY
CHARACTERISTICS OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT IN SERBIA WITH THE OVERVIEW OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AUTHORITY

Summary/Abstract: Local self-government represents a form of territorial decentralization. It exists in the states where local self-governments have been given the right to make autonomous decisions on local matters, without the interference of state power, through their local bodies which are chosen by the citizens or in which the citizens have direct vote. The elements which are constituent to the concept of local self-government in Serbia, as well as in the majority of states worldwide are: 1) it is guaranteed and regulated by the Constitution and more closely by law, 2) it is implemented in local communities where the citizens live and meet their everyday needs, 3) it is based on autonomous and original competences which are exercised without state interference, 4) citizens participate in making decisions on local matters directly, or indirectly via local bodies chosen in free elections and the state cannot interfere in their appointment. Self-government authority has been structured towards an assembly model which makes it different from the model of a rationalized parliamentarism at the state/republic level. This model asserts the election of the president of municipality or mayor, in case of cities. The solution from the previous Law on self-government from 2002 has been presented in this paper. It foresaw the direct election of municipality presidents and city mayors which entailed problems in local political practice. The legal framework of the present Law on selfgovernment from 2007 has also been discussed. It provides that municipality presidents and city mayors are elected by local representative bodies. This indirect election of municipality and city leaders in political practice may have the character of direct voting, which is the fact that should not be neglected.

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