Citizens’assembly in Esh-sur-Alzette-Demnext

Design - Strategy -Training

The DemocracyNext citizen assembly in Esh sur Alzette (Luxemburg) is part of the

DemocracyNext Cities program, an initiative designed to explore and advance innovative models of citizen participation and democratic engagement at the local level. The assembly provides an opportunity for citizens to engage in meaningful dialogue on pressing issues, allowing them to deliberate and make recommendations for local governance and decision-making.

Credit: Emile Hengen

In 2025, Esch will implement a Citizens’ Assembly to address a particular challenge about the future of the city. DemocracyNext will work with the city to determine what this will be. This will be the kind of issue that requires tapping into the collective  intelligence of people living in the city to work together and find common ground on recommendations. The intention is to learn from this first experience to institutionalise Citizens’ Assemblies and make them a part of Esch’s expanded democratic structure.

This two-year-long collaboration between Cultures of Assembly and DemocracyNext will run in parallel and in close proximity to the forthcoming research project, ‘The Esch Clinics’ (starting in September 2024), devised and conducted by the Chair of the City of Esch. The collaboration will focus on the implementation of a series of citizen assemblies in Esch-sur-Alzette that will produce a local base narrative and complement the activities and initiatives of The Esch Clinics to investigate questions around urban commons and innovative democratic urban governance.

The assembly focuses on ensuring that citizens' voices are not only heard but are instrumental in shaping public policy and local government priorities. It is an experiment in democratic innovation, aimed at creating a more inclusive and participatory form of democracy.

Key elements of the Demnext citizens assembly in Esh-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg

Deliberation on Local Issues

The assembly allows citizens from the local community to deliberate on issues that affect them directly, such as economic development, public services, environmental concerns, and local governance.

Inclusive and Representative Process

The assembly includes a diverse group of citizens, ensuring that different demographic groups are represented. This helps to create a more inclusive decision-making process that reflects the views and experiences of the broader community.

Citizen-Led Recommendations

Participants in the assembly discuss and formulate recommendations for action on identified issues. These recommendations inform and guide local policymakers, giving citizens a direct role in shaping the policies and practices that affect their daily lives.

Engagement and Empowerment

The assembly empowers citizens by fostering a sense of ownership and agency over the decision-making process. It provides a platform for people to express their views, engage in informed debates, and collaborate to find solutions to complex community issues.

Collaborative Design

The project emphasizes the collaborative design of the assembly, working with local stakeholders to ensure the assembly is relevant, meaningful, and has the potential to make an impact on local governance.

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