The citizens’ platform G1000 launched a petition on Monday to transform the Belgian Senate into a permanent citizens’ assembly. The organisation announced this during an event on Place de la Monnaie in Brussels.
It is virtually certain that the Senate in its current form will be abolished. Its abolition is included in the federal coalition agreement and should be finalised by the end of the current term of office. According to the government, as well as many opposition parties, the Senate is not relevant enough and is too expensive.
What should happen to the Senate building afterwards is far less clear. Some advocate moving the Brussels Parliament into the building, whilst others suggest turning it into a “museum of democracy”.
![](\"https://avatars.prezly.com/favicon?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.belganewsagency.eu%2Fsenate-takes-new-step-towards-own-abolition-core-cabinet-rejects-cap-on-energy-prices&newsroom=6b71e247-a9ba-4732-aaa3-88be14c119db\")
\n belganewsagency.eu \n However, the citizens’ platform G1000 proposes establishing a permanent citizens’ council in the building. The model is largely based on a practice that the G1000 helped establish in the German-speaking Community, the so-called “Ostbelgien model”, which has been in place since 2019. The G1000 has been campaigning for 15 years for more deliberative democracy, in which randomly selected citizens’ panels deliberate on social issues and advise elected politicians.
Today, the non-profit organisation launched a campaign around its new proposal during an event on the Place de la Monnaie in Brussels. Sixty coloured chairs – symbolising the Senate – and a host of speakers attracted attention. With red and green cards, everyone could have their say. When asked whether those present felt represented in politics, red cards were raised en masse.
![](\"https://avatars.prezly.com/favicon?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.belganewsagency.eu%2Fbelgians-want-greater-citizen-participation-in-policymaking&newsroom=6b71e247-a9ba-4732-aaa3-88be14c119db\")
\n belganewsagency.eu \n The G1000 citizens’ platform wants to address this frustration. Not by dismantling the current political system, but by building on it, they say. “Politicians are often preoccupied with the next elections and winning votes,” explained Marius Gilbert, a professor at the French-speaking Brussels university ULB. “That is a limitation that citizens can help to address.”
In practical terms, such a citizens’ council would advise the federal parliament on a wide range of topics, from education to migration or care for the elderly. Just like a jury, participants are selected by lot and must be representative of the population.
“Politicians are often preoccupied with the next elections and winning votes”
They then meet over a number of weekends, during which they receive information on a specific topic, discuss it amongst themselves, and ultimately make recommendations. “Parliament is then obliged to respond to those recommendations,” explained Ben Eersels, director of G1000.
To actually launch the project, the organisation must first collect 25,000 signatures via an online petition. If successful, parliament is obliged to organise a hearing on the proposal.
Event of the G1000 citizens' platform in Brussels © BELGA PHOTO EMILIE JOUBERT
", "header": { "large": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/dd6a97d2-641e-48fc-8025-9f4b0828fd31/-/preview/1200x1200/-/format/auto/", "release": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/dd6a97d2-641e-48fc-8025-9f4b0828fd31/-/preview/1200x1200/-/format/auto/" }, "links": [ { "description": "Senate takes new step towards own abolition, core cabinet rejects cap on energy prices", "url": "https://www.belganewsagency.eu/senate-takes-new-step-towards-own-abolition-core-cabinet-rejects-cap-on-energy-prices" }, { "description": "Belgians want greater citizen participation in policymaking", "url": "https://www.belganewsagency.eu/belgians-want-greater-citizen-participation-in-policymaking" } ], "author": { "first_name": "Flanders", "last_name": "News Service" }, "format_version": 5 }