Truth, Trust and Local Democracy in the Age of Mis/Disinformation
It often starts with a rumour. In Sweden, when a local council proposed using municipal land for newly arrived migrants, the debate should have been about policy. Instead, misleading narratives took over. Trust in the process collapsed, divisions deepened, and planning ground to a halt, not because people disagreed with the idea itself, but because confidence in their leaders had been shaken.
Similar patterns are unfolding elsewhere. In the UK, false claims spread by extremists have fuelled threats against local politicians and even disrupted council meetings. In Romania, local authorities say they are forced to divert time and resources away from essential services just to counter rumours that refuse to die.
These stories reveal a larger truth: when facts are twisted, democratic dialogue loses its footing. Decisions that should serve communities are delayed or derailed, while elected representatives, especially women and those from minority backgrounds, are left facing increased hostility and intimidation.
A CEMR survey of our national associations in spring 2025 shows how these dynamics are unfolding. Local and regional governments (LRGs) report a rise in mis/ disinformation aimed at discrediting officials, obstructing policy implementation, and deepening divisions within communities. Drawing on real experiences of LRGs, the report highlights just how seriously these campaigns disrupt the effective functioning of local governments.
Truth in a democracy has always been a contested space, where facts meet belief and political narratives shape how people understand the world. However, today’s challenge goes far beyond healthy disagreement. We face deliberate distortion designed to divide. The result is a public sphere that is more polarised, less participatory, and less able to carry out essential functions effectively, from maintaining public order to protecting vulnerable populations and managing crises.
LRGs are among the most exposed to these pressures. As the democratic institutions closest to citizens, they are both highly trusted and acutely vulnerable. Their central role in service delivery and daily engagement with residents makes them visible targets for manipulated narratives that seek to distort facts, fuel mistrust, and erode credibility.
If responses to mis-disinformation are to succeed, they must include the local level. Strengthening local democracy is not only about protecting values, but also about ensuring that LRGs can continue delivering the services and leadership vital to cohesive, peaceful societies. That means investing in tools and training for public administrators, supporting independent local media, promoting media literacy, and embedding LRGs into national and EU strategies that recognise on-the-ground realities.
These issues are explored in detail in the new CEMR report that will be launched on 13 October in Brussels (2-6.30pm). At a time when democratic resilience is under strain, mis/ disinformation represents a collective challenge that no institution can address alone.
Empowering local governments is central to building trust, protecting democratic values and ensuring cohesive societies. The launch event will bring together participants able to provide insights, experiences and expertise that strengthen the debate and inform concrete solutions.
Seats are limited and registration is required for those wishing to contribute.
For more information, contact:
Senior Advisor – Governance & Institutional Relations
