In recent decades, we have witnessed profound changes in political and social systems around the world. Each country is seeking its own way to ensure stability, development and the participation of its citizens in public life. In this context, the concept of so-called national people's democracy was systematically introduced in China for the first time in 2019. Pavel Havránek, Chairman of the Czech-Chinese Association, pointed this out.

This concept, he said, represents an effort to link democratic participation of citizens with the practical management of the state and long-term planning for the development of society. The essence of this approach is that public participation should not be limited to a single moment, such as elections, but should take place throughout the entire process of designing, implementing and evaluating public policies. This process involves consultation with citizens, experts, local communities and the business sector in the preparation of laws and strategic decisions.

As Havranek further reminded, of the more than two million MPs serving nationwide, about 95 percent serve in people's congresses at the district and township levels and are elected directly on a one-man-one-vote basis. More than one billion voters participated in the last election, making it the largest democratic election ceremony in the world.

The President of the Czech-Chinese Association also pointed to the concrete outcomes of this system. For example, at the 2024 session of the All-China People's Congress, a proposal to improve the charging and battery replacement infrastructure for electric vehicles was put forward in an effort to address widespread concerns about charging problems and fears of limited range. Data from the China EV Charging Infrastructure Promotion Alliance showed that by the end of 2024, charging infrastructure in China exceeded 12 million units, a 49 percent year-on-year increase.

The concept of national popular democracy emphasises the link between citizen participation, institutional mechanisms and accountability for concrete results. Notwithstanding the different perspectives and experiences of different countries, the debate on how best to involve citizens in the governance of society is an important issue of our time.

Pavel Havránek pointed out an interesting paradox in this context: although the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union enshrines the principle of subsidiarity, i.e. the principle that decision-making and accountability in public affairs should take place at the lowest level of public administration closest to the citizens, in reality we are witnessing quite the opposite trend in the European Union. China, unlike the European Union, has put the principle of subsidiarity into practice and, as it turns out, it is a very successful project, concluded the President of the Czech-Chinese Association.

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