Hoping for a big turnout for Hungarian democracy today.

Nets4Dem is a network for collaboration and advanced research on democratic innovation and civic participation. It connects policymakers, researchers, and practitioners like us to strengthen our capacity and implement innovative democracy initiatives. Interested? Find more in our Annual Report 👇🏽

📢 We’re excited to share that Sue Tibballs OBE is joining Involve as our new Chief Executive “Our mission to renew UK democracy through public participation has never been more important – and Sue brings tremendous ambition and skill to this cause.” – Kevin Steel, Chair Read more👇 🔗 bit.ly/4uIfPOA

Big weekend for second-order elections - France (local, first round); Netherlands (local, single round); Italy (referendum on selection of judges).

🍻What would happen if we met to talk about democracy…over a beer? 𝐁𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬&𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬: @anthonyzach.be,president of @demsoc.org. Save the date! 📅26 March 🕠19:00 📍Sala Gunea, Gipuzkoa Plaza, z/g Donostia 📝Registration https://labur.eus/4xmfsalh 🤝 @deusto.bsky.social @arantzazulab.eus @gobeus.bsky.social

👋 JUST4CARE kicks off! Public spaces for all, even during heatwaves and floods. Communities in pilot cities will co-create safe spaces for extreme events while replicator cities will adapt solutions locally, spreading just climate adaptation in Europe. ➡️ Follow us on LinkedIn: @just4care-euproject

About to talk at the UN about democracy and development. The live stream, if you are interested in that sort of thing, is here: webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1x...

⏰ Last call! Only 1 day left to register for #DemocracyR&D2025 in Brussels. Join global innovators in deliberative democracy for workshops, debates & new ideas to strengthen democracy. 🗓️ Oct 1 deadline 🔗 www.drd2025.org

▶️ Panel 2: Bold ideas to innovate European democracies ▪️ Ken Godfrey, European Partnership for Democracy ▪️ David Van Reybrouck, writer, thinker and historian ▪️ Eva Bordos, DemNet Hungary ▪️ Anthony Zacharzewski, @demsoc.org

▶️ Panel 2: Bold ideas to innovate European democracies ▪️ Ken Godfrey (@kenlcg.bsky.social), @epd.eu ▪️ David Van Reybrouck, writer, thinker and historian ▪️ Eva Bordos, DemNet Hungary ▪️ Anthony Zacharzewski (@anthonyzach.be), @demsoc.org

Stimulating public lecture on strengthening democracy by @anthonyzach.be from @demsoc.org organised by @dublincityuni.bsky.social fabulously captured in this illustration

🛡️ Civil society is the backbone of Europe’s democracy—driving participation, protecting rights, and pushing for climate and social justice. 💡 The EU Civil Society Strategy is a unique chance to strengthen CSOs and democracy. The D4T Coalition’s position paper shows how ➡️ eeb.org/wp-content/u...

🤖 AI is entering democratic spaces, but what does that really imply? Join us on 3 Sept, 13:00 CET for “Efficiency and Democracy: Why Slowing Down Might Be a Good Idea”. 🎙️ With Elizabeth Calderón Lüning & Arild Ohren. 👉 RSVP to join live or get the recording: 360democracy.circle.so/c/open-talks...

The full Democracy R&D 2025 programme is here! Changemakers from all over the world will meet this October to build strategies to make democracy work under pressure. 👉 Explore the programme: drive.google.com/file/d/1TEgK... 📌 Register at www.drd2025.org 🌍 Available funding for Global South + CEE

400 democracy changemakers +100 workshops submissions +30k fundraised for inclusion and diversity Democracy R&D 2025 is where global voices meet to rethink democracy. 🔎 Are you from Global South & CEE? We'd love to fund your assistance! 👉 Learn more and register at www.drd2025.org

Last call for participatory democracy projects! The Rising Stars Mentorship Program offers 1-on-1 guidance, 11 expert mentors, and support in 8 languages to help your initiative thrive. 📅 Apply by July 6, 2025 👉 nets4dem.eu/rising-stars...

Got a project that engages youth in policymaking or governance? The Democratic Innovations Accelerator (DIA) offers free mentorship, tools & a peer community to help you design or grow your initiative! 📅 Deadline: July 6, 2025 👉 nets4dem.eu/democratic-i...

Help shape Demsoc’s new Community Resource Centre! We’re collecting top tools for democracy, civic action & impact. Got a fave resource? Share it here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F.... Thanks in advance for contributing to this shared resource!

Very pleased to be going to TicTEC next week in lovely Mechelen. @mysociety.org have been friends and partners since even before @demsoc.org was founded and it's great to see them (and lots of friends) in le plat pays. Here are the details: tictec.mysociety.org/event/tictec...

📣 Today, ECAS met with MEP Damian Boeselager to present key recommendations from our analysis of the European Commission’s 2023 Guidance on free movement. 🔗 Read our report: ecas.org/publication/... @alliance4europe.bsky.social @demsoc.org @feantsa.bsky.social

¡Vente a pasear mañana con nosotros! ―Abrimos hilo― 🗓️ Jueves 5 junio, 16:30–19:30 📍 Metro San Cristóbal, Villaverde (Madrid) Estamos en 2075 y los polígonos del sur de Villaverde, antes grises y olvidados, hoy son terreno fértil de iniciativas que brotan con fuerza: locales, circulares, vivas.

Street to system 🏙️ @demsoc.org connects local voices to democratic transformation across Europe in Nets4Dem. #MeetTheNetwork here 👉🏼 nets4dem.eu/our-network/

Si quieres tener una escucha activa y real de los niños, se necesita ir a sus propios espacios, jugar y conversar. Luego, traducir este juego a los pliegos de arquitectura sin perder el espíritu. #JuanLopez-Aranguren @demsoc.org @disenoydiaspora.bsky.social disenoydiaspora.org/609-sostenib...

Para que la participación ciudadana funcione se necesita unos profesionales que tienen una curiosidad real. Esto parece sencillo pero no lo es. Escuchar de manera atenta, sin imponer, requiere de gente valiente. #JuanLopezArangurrn @demsoc.org #activismo #sostenibilidad #educación

" #Democracy is not optimised for speed. It's supposed to be slow to allow time for collective sense-making." - Elizabeth Calderón Lüning of @demsoc.org debunking the efficiency promise of #AI for democratic process and how it reduces citizens to 'users'. #openknowledge #opensource #openscience

What happens after democratic innovations? 🧭 Our new report draws lessons from 17 senior civil servants across Europe - showing how to embed participation into everyday governance. 10 takeaways and open questions 👉 bit.ly/3Gk86S0

Reminded by a colleague that it’s 19 years today that @andrewmartin.bsky.social @benrowland.bsky.social, Helen, Andrew and I signed the papers to set up @demsoc.org. Going to have to have a big party next year…

We’re delighted to see a full room for the launch of the Democracy for Transition Coalition with @demsoc.org! It’s invigorating to see so many eager to unite the democratic and environmental movements in these trying times. Check out our mission statement to learn more: eeb.org/library/miss...

Democracy for Transition Coalition is brat. Enjoyed launching the new @demsoc.org project with our friends at @eeb.org - working together for citizen participation and climate transition as inseparable goals.

Overcoming the tech woes for a fun podcast recording with ALDA, talking about participatory democracy for a #localgov audience. Out in a couple of weeks and thanks for having me.

Yesterday we launched our first Working in a Modern Democracy report at the ADSO Conference. Please share. #democracy #localdemocracy #localgov #councillors www.adso.co.uk/moderndemocr...

Breaking: Romanian media are reporting that the Constitutional Court is considering canceling Sunday's presidential elections that saw far-right candidate Calin Georgescu end up first in the polls. A vote can be annulled if the "voting and the establishment of the results took place by fraud."

Some of our work on #NetZero and the @ec.europa.eu’s Cities Mission - getting 100+ European cities to Net Zero faster, with deep citizen engagement at the heart of the plan: www.linkedin.com/posts/al%C3%...

#DemocracyShield top talking point at #Nets4Dem s panel in "Innovating Democracy Together". Question on the table: only external view or also internal? @demsoc.org @egmontinstitute.bsky.social

For the morning commute*, 12 minutes and 16 seconds of me talking to Anne-Sophie Garrigou about @demsoc.org, our work on climate, and where democracy goes next. bit.ly/3YnvyEk or bit.ly/4f4Mmpb depending on your podcast platform of choice. *also available at other times.

Have created a starter pack for people working on European & EU Affairs. As more join I'm hoping to have more regional lists for myself and starter packs so I can recreate the source gathering I had on Twitter. go.bsky.app/HGjxSNw

go.bsky.app/79dKH3P Here’s my attempt at a Polisky starter pack

Very pleased to announce the new Nets4Dem network, bringing together governments, practitioners, and academics. Read about it on our site, and watch this space for news of how to join: www.demsoc.org/projects/net...

Train delays meant I was half an hour late but made it to the launch of Leuven’s Climate City Contract (on which my colleagues at @demsoc.org have been working).

Right then, here we go.