THE ROLE OF THE PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE IN ENHANCING PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Abstract

Abstract:

At a time when transparency and accountability in public administration represent increasingly pressing demands of citizens in relation to the state, the role of the People's Advocate becomes essential in preventing administrative abuses and protecting fundamental rights. The present study aims to analyse the activity of the People's Advocate institution during the period 2023–2025, by reference to its legal powers, the annual and special reports it published, as well as the statistical evolution of petitions and ex officio referrals. The methodological approach is based on documentary analysis and the comparative interpretation of official data regarding the main categories of rights infringed, the types of administrative dysfunctions identified, and the areas in which the institution’s intervention was more intense. The research results highlight an increase in the number of petitions and a diversification of the problems reported, especially in relation to the right to petition, free access to justice, the right to private property, the right to a pension, and the protection of vulnerable persons. At the same time, the analysis of the special reports reveals the institution’s concern for topics of major public interest, such as domestic violence, road safety, involuntary hospitalisation, older persons exposed to poverty, or the recognition of contribution periods completed abroad. The main conclusion is that the People's Advocate remains a necessary institutional mechanism for strengthening the rule of law, even though the effectiveness of its interventions depends substantially on the responsiveness of public authorities and on the improvement of the legal framework.