Constitution framing goes online in tech-savvy Iceland
09 Jun 2011
The tiny nation of Iceland has taken a big step in involving its citizens in statecraft by taking the writing of a new constitution to the people.
The country which is in the process of overhauling its constitution following an economic catastrophe has turned to the internet to seek inputs from its citizens.
The 25-member council which is tasked with drafting the new constitution is going online to reach out to Icelanders, through social media sites Facebook and Twitter, video-sharing site YouTube and photo site Flickr.
Iceland has among the world's most computer-literate population with two-thirds of its 320,000 citizens on Facebook. The meetings of the constitution council are therefore broadcast live on the social networking site as also on the council's website.
According to Berghildur Bernhardsdottir, spokeswoman for the constitutional review project, it is possible to register through other means, but most of the discussion takes place via Facebook.
After gaining independence from Denmark in 1944, making a few minor changes such as ''president'' for ''king'' Iceland, adopted the Danish constitution in toto.
Though a thorough review of the constitution has long been on the agenda it was only in 2008 with the collapse of Iceland's main commercial banks that action in the direction became imperative. Meanwhile, the krona currency plummeted as the government toppled.
