Changing Attitudes Towards Territorial Municipal Reforms – The Case of Inland Norway

Inland people’s attitude towards municipal amalgamation reform in Norway from 2013 to 2018 has become more positive. However, a majority does not support the ongoing reform, but the changes have been substantial during such a short time period. However, these changes seem not to be a result of new and more positive judgements of the reforms’ results and outcome. By contrast, the majority has been more critical of anticipated consequences of the amalgamation reform into larger municipalities. Instead, we considered the changes as a type of ‘resignation’ towards a reform pressure from the national government and general changes in their environment. More citizens’ assess that positive municipal economic development and more local competence are favourable effects of mergers, and this finding supports this claim. The reform is likely to catch up with their local units anyway, and the citizens’ attitudes are adapting to what they expect will occur in the upcoming years.

THE HISTORY OF MUNICIPAL REFORMS IN THE UDMURT REPUBLIC

The article considers the main directions of municipal reforms carried out in the Udmurt Republic that are relevant for the modern organization of municipal management. The authors identify fundamental issues that need to be addressed in order to effectively organize the municipal government. The stages of municipal reform are considered in detail and specific examples are given. The authors focus on the need to consistently implement structural changes in local government. For an objective assessment of the situation in the Udmurt Republic, the following areas are considered: territorial organization of local self-government, formation of local self-government bodies, legal support for municipal reform, and others. The article examines the features and problems of municipal reform, taking into account historical and other conditions and factors. The authors put forward constructive proposals for effective organization of municipal administration.

Challenges of the Implementation of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in the Hungarian Legislation

The article reviews the changing approach on the nature of local governance in Hungary. During the Democratic Transition the evolvement of the Hungarian municipal system was based on the paradigm and approach of the European Charter of Local Government. Thus one of the most autonomous local government system of Europe evolved in Hungary. Although the municipal reforms were basically successful, several dysfunctional phenomena could be observed and the request for the municipal reforms was strong from the late 1990s in Hungary. The new constitution of Hungary, the Fundamental Law introduced a new model. The approach of the local governance has been transformed: the autonomy of the municipalities have been limited. Thus the autonomous nature of the Hungarian model changed and new challenges have appeared in the field of the implementation of the regulation of the Charter.