Closer to Citizens or Closer to the Market? Assessing the Priorities of Lithuanian Municipal Councillors

Abstract

In recent decades, the public debate on the importance of local politics has become central to understanding the changes in the quality of local democracy. This article examines the importance of local politicians for contributing to the quality of democracy in the context of neoliberal policies. It is argued that local politicians (councillors), as the mediators between the citizens and government, can make a significant contribution to strengthening or weakening local democracy, depending on their political preferences, roles and orientations. Based on a quantitative survey of Lithuanian municipal councillors, this paper examines councillors’ agenda priorities and how they perceive their roles within local government. The paper concludes that there is a distinction between social welfare and economic competitiveness in the agenda priorities of local politicians. The findings contribute to the debate on changing local governance and transformations in local political leadership.