LIETUVOS SAVIVALDYBIŲ TARYBŲ NARIŲ DARBOTVARKĖS PRIORITETAI: REGIONINIAI SKIRTUMAI IR MIESTO-KAIMO DICHOTOMIJA

Abstract

 This paper aims to ascertain the attitudes of Lithuanian municipal councillors with regard to the objectives of the local government agenda, i.e. which objectives are considered priorities by these individuals. The object of the research was selected to be members of municipal councils elected in the 5 March 2023 elections due to the alterations to the legal framework and the role of municipal councillors that occurred prior to these elections. To address the research question, the present study utilised the questionnaire survey from the international study "European councilor" (with a focus on the Lithuanian context). The quantitative data analysis revealed that the attitudes of local politicians towards the agenda's priorities exhibited geographical variation across the national territory, with distinct traditional (socio-economic), territorial development and environmental quality improvement issues being prominent in different regions. The analysis of attitudes has also highlighted the centre-periphery (urban-rural) dichotomy, particularly in terms of territorial development.

Keywords: 

municipal councillors, provisions, agenda, territorial inequalities, Lithuania