14.00

Opening by the panel chair Theo Schiller, Chairman of the Board of Governors of IRI Europe

14.05

Welcome adress by the venue host, President of the State Parliament of Aargau, Walter Markwalder

14.10

Introduction statement by the Coordinator of the Global Seminar, Bruno Kaufmann, President IRI Europe

14.15

“Swiss direct democracy as an impulse for the world”,
presentation by Oswald Sigg, Vice-Chancellor and Federal Council Spokesman

14.50

“The world of direct democracy – procedures, praxis and challenges”
presentation by David Altman, Professor of Political Science at the Catholic University of Santiago, Chile

15.20
15.30

Questions and answers
Break

16.00

“A global tour of direct democracy – activities, trends, defeats and future plans” – brief statements from people working on, with and for direct democracy around the world (5 min/input)

17.30

Towards a global network and agenda on direct democracy – presentation of the Thursday morning themed forums: “Asia” (Boris Voyer), “Americas” (Joe Mathews), “Europe” (Daniel Schily), “Education” (Rolf Büchi)

18.00

Buffet dinner

19.30

Welcome by the panel chair Jung-Ok Lee, Head of International Cooperation at the Korea Democracy Foundation

19.45

Going for more (direct) democracy in Germany – successes and failures in a reunited country; Gerald Häfner, Spokesman for the Board of Management of Mehr Demokratie e.V.

20.15

Direct democracy asian-style – steps towards more popular sovereignty in Asia: the example of Taiwan; Huang Jau-yuan, Editor of the “Guidebook to Direct Democracy in Asia”

20.45

A century of citizen lawmaking – Initiative and Referendum in the United States of America; Joe Mathews, DD Correspondent at the Los Angeles Times.

9.30

Themed Forums

Forum I: “Asia”
Forum II: “Americas”
Forum III: “Europe”
Forum IV: “Education”

13.30

Welcome by the panel chair Heidi Hautala, Finnish MP and former MEP and presidential candidate and board member of IRI Europe

13.35

New tools for direct democracy across the world – the Geneva e-voting experience, by Michel Chevallier, State Chancellery of Geneva

14.00

Reports from the five themed forums as contributions to the inventory and working perspectives; Rapporteurs

14.30

Presentation of suggestions for creating a “World Democracy Forum” network process on direct democracy by Bruno Kaufmann, President IRI Europe and Jung-Ok Lee Korea Democracy Foundation/IRI Asia

15.15

Concluding discussion

16.00

Close of the seminar