In democracy we trust!

Empowering Local Authorities

Strengthening institutions and the quality of democracy at local and national level

Participatory Democracy

to ensure the reflection of people’s will

Human Rights

Citizenship and participation are established fundamental rights

Scientific Research

on the quality of institutions and the democratic functioning of local communities.

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About us

Fotis Kizakis

Managing Director

Fotis Kizakis is political scientist (BA in Political Science at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) and cultural economist (MA in Cultural Economics and Entrepreneurship at Erasmus University Rotterdam). He is currently PhD candidate in Department of Political Science in Aristotle Unviersity of Thessaloniki, and has broad experience in EU Project Management and Proposal Writing. He is Managing Director and co-founder of DEMOTRUST.

Alexandros Poulakis

Operations Director

Alexandros Poulakis has a BSc in Political Science (AUTH), earned with excellence and a scholarship. He also holds an MSc in Humanitarian Logistics and Crisis Management from the University of Macedonia (UoM) and the International Hellenic University (IHU). He is passionately committed to promoting transparency, accountability, democracy, human rights, and addressing migration issues. He is the Operations Director and Co-founder of DEMOTRUST.

Eva Zisi

Human Rights Director

Eva Zisi is a political scientist with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) and a Master’s degree in International Politics from KU Leuven. She has completed two internships with the UNESCO Chair in Thessaloniki, where she specialized in women’s empowerment. She is Human Rights Director and co-founder of DEMOTRUST

Declaration of Values

Thessaloniki, 24 July 2024

Today, fifty years after the restoration of Greek democracy, it is more than obvious that democracy as a social phenomenon needs a reboot.
Fifty years after the beginning of the smoothest and most mature period of Greek statehood, political institutions are in a deep crisis of trust. The transformation of the financial crisis of 2008 into a social and political crisis tested the political system and found it unable to maintain its legitimacy, leading many to speak of the end of the “metapolitefsi” period of 1974. The political parties, leaders, institutions, political values and ideas that marked the post-WWII period – the epilogue of a massive political 20th century – are now in a deep crisis, dragging democratic values themselves with them.

Both at national and European level, the rapid rise of abstention and the presentation of anti-democratic forces and their demands as the “only viable alternative to governance” are the predictable result of both indifference and lack of trust in democracy and the dysfunctions of the democratic constitution itself. Democracy is presented as a bad option, an option that enables ‘corrupt politicians’ and ‘vested interests’ to ‘play their game behind closed doors’.
In this way, citizens believe that the only solution is the dissolution of the social contracts that have defined the political process in favour of new ones, which – frankly – put the core values and assurances of liberal democracy and pluralism into question reintroducing discrimination and brutality against political opponents and ‘different citizens’ as the necessary price to pay for justice.
The empowerment of local communities is now becoming absolutely necessary to tackle the dangers that threaten democracy.

In this context, the use of political science is emerging as the main tool for strengthening democratic communities to resist corruption and discrimination.
The fiftieth anniversary of modern Greek democracy, giving us pause for thought, is therefore a reminder that democracy is not and should not be taken for granted. In this context, we decided to form and create the organization “DEMOTRUST” with the aim of enhancing the quality of the democracy in our country and strengthening citizens’ faith in democracy.

As DEMOTRUST we are committed to work hard for a transparent, participatory and inclusive democracy.
As political scientists, we expect through our work to promote transparency and integrity in both institutions and every public official, aiming to strengthen citizens’ trust in democratic institutions.

Our action will aim for a society where discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, religion or social class does not exist. Through the development of research tools and interventions at the micro-level of social action our organisation expects:
– Empower local communities and administrations by strengthening their institutions, their measures against corruption, and citizens’ trust in democratic processes,
– ensure safe access for all individuals to social and political life on an equal basis,
– develop educational tools and materials in terms of assessing the functioning of institutions,
– promote European and democratic values; and,
– enhance the participation of young people in democratic processes.

We wish a happy birthday to our democracy and we consistently continue the fight to protect and strengthen it, taking – as we should – one step further.

On behalf of DEMOTRUST

Fotis Kizakis
Alexandros Poulakis
Eva Zisi

Objectives

The main objectives of DEMOTRUST are:

  1. Strengthening institutions and building citizens’ confidence in them.
  2. Ensuring safe and equal access for everyone to social and political life, with a focus on the quality of democracy in local and regional governance.
  3. Promoting scientific research and documentation on the quality of institutions and democracy in local communities.
  4. Developing tools and educational materials for evaluating the function of institutions.
  5. Empowering youth and encouraging their participation in democratic processes that shape their future.

In order to achieve its intended purpose, DEMOTRUST does the following:

  1. Invitation of experts from Greece and abroad, particularly in the fields of political and social sciences, to conduct research and organize relevant seminars and workshops.
  2. Organization of special seminars and lectures to inform and raise public awareness of the organizations’ objectives.
  3. Conducting and organizing workshops to empower and engage young people in democratic activities.
  4. Participation in and implementation of research and educational programs with European Union bodies, government agencies, or other entities that share similar or related objectives to those of the organization.
  5. Education and training of staff, whether domestically or abroad, to enhance the organization’s operations, funded by the organization.
  6. Cooperation with public or private institutions, both domestic and international, that are aligned with the organization’s objectives.
  7. Establishment of volunteer groups within university departments to promote democratic engagement in areas relevant to the organization’s mission.
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