The importance of direct participation of citizens, especially in relation to directly elected local authorities, but also of necessary safeguards for government stability, has been emphasised by the Congress, in its Recommendation 113 (2002) on the application of Article 3.2 of the Charter: “Where those in charge of the public authority are directly elected by the people, any dismissal must be endorsed by the people. However, these procedures should at the same time carry all the guarantees necessary for stable local government […].”