Introduction of a permanent citizens' council at the municipal level.
This initiative calls for the establishment of a permanent citizens' council in municipalities. The randomly selected body is to regularly participate in municipal issues and strengthen local democracy.
Problem
- Many population groups are underrepresented in local politics.
- Many people feel alienated from politics and hardly participate in political processes because they feel their opinion has no influence.
- Political decision-making does not reflect the diversity of society, as certain groups are underrepresented.
- Many citizens find political processes too complicated and opaque, causing them to engage less and instead leave decisions to others.
Solution
- The citizens' council in the municipalities shall consist of 20 to 100 randomly selected persons depending on the size of the municipality, who are at least 16 years old and can participate regardless of their citizenship.
- The council meets regularly, develops recommendations on municipal issues, and can initiate citizen panels.
- The municipality's executive must respond to the proposals within 6 months.
- The meetings of the citizens' council are professionally moderated so that all voices are heard and well-founded recommendations without party-political interests are produced.
- All discussions, recommendations, and decisions of the citizens' council are publicly documented so that the entire population can participate and be informed.
Benefit
- A permanent citizens' council enables citizens in every municipality to regularly participate in political decision-making processes – regardless of elections or party affiliation.
- By involving a representative body in municipal politics, political decisions become more transparent, citizen-oriented, and broadly supported.
- The exchange between randomly selected citizens strengthens mutual understanding and reduces political polarization at the local level.
- If the citizens' council is successfully established in several municipalities, other cities and regions can adopt and further develop this model.
Public support
Total votes: 22
Breakdown: SoundsGood: 8, FullyOnBoard: 6, NeedForDiscussion: 3, NothingAgainstIt: 3, NoChance: 1, Concerns: 1