Embracing deliberation as part of the democratic infrastructure
🎉Seven years ago, the Parliament of the German-speaking Community of Belgium (aka Ostbelgien) unanimously passed a decree establishing and institutionalizing a “Permanent Citizens’ Dialogue”. The cross-party agreement during the design phase contributed to political legitimacy from the outset.
Rather than viewing deliberation as a challenge to representative democracy, politicians saw it as a response to its limits, including declining trust and political polarisation.
🎥In the featured clip, Nicole De Palmenaer describes the origins of the permanent body in Ostbelgien.
👉Watch the full presentation by Nicole: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp9BXvSsIWg
The workshop was co-organised with the European Climate Foundation and KNOCA - Knowledge Network on Climate Assemblies
#CitizensAssembly #Institutionalisation #DeliberativeDemocracy #Ostbelgien