Developing the gift of citizens' assemblies

On 7 October 2024, the Robert Bosch Foundation, the association ‘Klimamitbestimmung’ and the network of food councils held the Future Forum on Citizens' Assemblies. Around 75 representatives from politics, civil society, business and science gathered in Berlin for the event. A report by Klimamitbestimmung.
In the first part of the Future Forum, the participants looked back on the first mini-public of the Bundestag, the Citizens’ Assembly ‘Nutrition in Transition’. This assembly presented its recommendations to the Bundestag in February 2024.
Citizens' assembly on nutrition of high quality
Participants and organisers of the Citizens‘ Assembly, scientists who accompanied the assembly, and members of the Bundestag from the Committee on Nutrition and Agriculture attested to the high quality of the mini-public. Subsequently, implementation perspectives were discussed and networks formed.
The second part of the forum focused on the future of citizens‘ assemblies. Examples from mini-publics in Erlangen and Kirchanschöring impressively showed how municipalities can use citizens‘ assemblies to effectively address social challenges, particularly in conflict-prone policy areas.
Examples from Erlangen and Kirchanschöring
In Erlangen's climate awakening, it became clear how a link between citizens’ assemblies and the participation of stakeholders can work. The experiences of the Bavarian municipality of Kirchanschöring illustrated how citizens‘ assemblies can be successful, especially in rural and conservative areas.
Two panel discussions with members of the German Bundestag and Karen Bömelburg and Biggy Kewitsch, participants in the Citizens‘ Assembly on “Nutrition in Transition”, focused on what will happen to the recommendations and whether there will be further citizens’ assemblies at the federal level in the future.
Implementing recommendations takes time
At the beginning of 2024, the Citizens' Assembly on “Nutrition in Transition” had submitted nine recommendations to the Bundestag. According to the MPs, many of them will take more time to implement. However, Renate Künast (Greens) and Daniela de Ridder (SPD), members of the responsible parliamentary committee on nutrition, want to come to decisions on two recommendations before the next federal election - on an age limit for energy drinks and on the disposal of food that can no longer be sold. Both recommendations were last discussed in public expert discussions in the Bundestag.
According to a representative survey conducted by the opinion research institute Verian as part of the evaluation of the Citizens‘ Assembly on Nutrition, 88 percent of the population support a thorough examination of the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly.
Support from companies and organisations
At the event, further support was expressed by companies, organisations and private individuals. Julius Palm of Followfood presented an open letter from companies, which had also been signed by companies such as Oatly. Patrick Müller of BUND handed over a letter on behalf of 79 signatory organisations. And Helena Hahne and Magnus Wagner delivered letters from private individuals. The initiative was launched as part of the ‘Listen to the Citizens’ Assembly‘ campaign by the Climate Guardians and the Klimamitbestimmung association.
Albert Stegemann (CDU) approached his colleagues from the SPD and the Greens on the topic of age limits for energy drinks. A cross-party agreement would be a strong signal to the Citizens’ Assembly.
‘Citizens’ Assembly has provided new impetus"
Stegemann also expressed himself surprisingly positively about citizens‘ assemblies. “Everyone knows that we had our problems with it initially,” he said. However, he did not perceive the process as undermining the legitimacy of parliament. Instead, he said, the Citizens’ Assembly was a very constructive process. ‘When we talk in committee, we keep circling around the same arguments and the Citizens’ Assembly has really provided new impetus,’ Stegemann said.
The CDU member emphasised that citizens‘ assemblies “can only be one instrument because, of course, we have a parliamentary democracy.” At the same time, he described the format as a gift, “and if we develop this gift in such a way that it strengthens democracy, then it is an asset for us”. Such a statement is remarkable, since Stegemann, like many of his faction colleagues, had previously been critical of citizens’ assemblies.
Working with citizens to develop solutions
The situation is different for CSU mayor Hans-Jörg Birner from Kirchanschöring. He regularly holds citizens' juries and reported enthusiastically on his experiences at the event. He said he has no sympathy for the concerns of his conservative colleagues at the federal level. “It can only be helpful if I work on an issue together with citizens and then jointly propose a solution,” said Birner.
In his view, the CDU lacks information about the strengths of this instrument, as well as concrete experiences of successful implementation.
Further Citizens‘ Assembly before election questionable
It remains to be seen whether other representatives of the CDU will take a more positive approach to the Citizens’ Assembly in the future. Philipp Amthor, the CDU/CSU parliamentary group's reporter on the matter, was unable to participate in the Future Forum.
It is questionable whether there will be another Citizens‘ Assembly before the 2025 federal election. Chancellor Olaf Scholz had proposed a Citizens’ Assembly to address the COVID-19 pandemic in the summer. However, the SPD and FDP within the federal government could not agree on this. Stephan Thomae of the FDP confirmed at the event that the prospects for another Citizens‘ Assembly in this legislative period are not good.
More citizens’ assemblies desired
Whether there will continue to be citizens‘ assemblies at the federal level thus depends on the next coalition. A survey conducted by the opinion research institute Verian after the Citizens’ Assembly "Nutrition in Transition" shows that a clear majority in Germany would like to see them, regardless of party preferences.
At a time when many people perceive ‘those at the top’ as out of touch, a ‘policy of being heard’ could be a promising campaign issue. In any case, SPD member of parliament Rita Hagl-Kehl confirmed that her party would again advocate for citizens‘ assemblies in possible coalition negotiations. The same can probably be assumed for the Greens.
It's up to the Union
In the end, it will be up to the Union. The question is whether the conservatives at the federal level will stick to their negative attitude towards citizens’ assemblies, or whether the CDU/CSU will remember Wolfgang Schäuble when it comes to government responsibility.
During his time as President of the Bundestag, Schäuble had spoken out in favour of mini-publics with the words “Es isch notwendig” (it is necessary). However, the voices that were heard from Union-governed municipalities such as Kirchanschöring or the nutrition committee at the Future Forum on Citizens’ Assemblies indicate that the Union is still struggling with its position.