Democracy Ecolab - Ecolo

Design

The Ecolab Democracy (2017) organized by the Ecolo party in Belgium was a think tank and reflection platform created by the party to address contemporary democratic challenges and the reforms needed to strengthen democracy. The initiative aimed to rethink democratic practices through participatory discussions and idea exchanges between citizens, experts, and politicians, with the goal of revitalizing democracy and encouraging greater citizen involvement in decision-making processes.

Credit: Ecolo

Citizens' assembly for 2019 elections

For the first time, and as part of the development of the party's program for the 2019 elections, Ecolo decided to "walk the talk" by organizing a citizens' assembly to define the party's priorities for the election. The two main priorities that emerged from this process were:

1. The establishment of citizens' assemblies at all levels of government.

2. Ensuring that these assemblies are mixed, composed of both citizens and parliamentarians, to maximize political follow-up.

Ecolab Democracy focused on:

1. Participatory Democracy: Encouraging greater citizen participation in political decision-making.

2. Governance: Reflecting on models of governance that are more transparent and effective.

3. Institutional Reforms: Discussing necessary adjustments to the political system to better meet citizens' expectations.

4. Democratic Innovation: Exploring new forms of deliberation and participation, such as citizens' assemblies.

This space aimed to foster the emergence of democratic solutions suited to current challenges and promote a more sustainable and representative model of democracy.

In summary

In summary, Ecolab Democracy was an initiative by the Ecolo party to encourage collective reflection on democracy, experiment with more inclusive and participatory practices, and take concrete steps toward greater citizen involvement in political processes.