The New Public Agenda

I am beginning to notice that unorganised public opinion, made up of various kinds of NGO-type organisations, is beginning to make its voice heard on various aspects of general public interest. Here are just a few:
– the exploitation of resources;
– mass media;
– the rule of law, the law and the constitution;
– animal rights;
– environment;
– health;
– administration;
– the spending of public funds;
– the relationship between the State and the citizen;
– European funds;
– regionalisation and decentralisation;
– other ways of understanding and doing politics.

Their voices and the protests are massive compared to what was going on until recently, when the whole media agenda was filled with politics, shocking revelations and cancan. Today, the voices that we hear have nothing to do with politics, they address issues like our daily life, the law, the rules that still do not exist or that are not enforced, the administration, how (not) to do politics. What started all this was mainly the massive protests in connection with Arafat and SMURD (the Mobile Emergency Service for Resuscitation and Extrication), and it continued with the protests about Roșia Montană. It is interesting to note that regardless of the topic discussed at a public level, those who are the spokespersons for these topics avoid saying – moreover, they even specify many times – that their approach is not a political one. Apart from these street protests that involve tens of thousands of people, we come across people or organisations all over the media that are increasingly verbal on their topics of interest. When it comes to the public consciousness, it is very clear that there are important changes underway. The reflection of these changes is given by three main aspects which can be observed in the public space:
– the first one, the lack of fear, apprehension, restraint, shyness or any other such factor;
– second, the topics addressed;
– third, all subjects, claims, complaints or grievances are directly related to the state, including the “mass media” subject.

It is difficult to draw a conclusion at this moment, but it is very clear that things are already commencing towards a public agenda which is especially interested in people’s daily problems or their problems of perspective. It would be risky to say anything more about the real coagulation of civil society or communities, but the signs are clearly indicating toward this direction. We should draw the conclusions from those who are and will continue to be involved with politics; one of these conclusions would be to strive for more administration, competence and professionalism, and less worthless political talk.