Only 24% of Belgians currently feel they have enough opportunity to express their views on policies that affect them.
However, the majority believe that citizen participation is crucial. In a study by research firm Indiville, 88% of respondents said that political leaders should consider citizens’ opinions when making decisions.
For many Belgians this goes beyond voting. In fact, just 24% of respondents feel they currently have enough say in governance; 13% believe that political decision-makers do not adequately consider their views before taking action.
Belgians largely feel under-involved in politics, especially at the European level where only 18% feel engaged. Locally, 54% of citizens report feeling little or no involvement.
Despite this, 88% of respondents believe it is important to have the opportunity to participate in political decision-making. More than three-quarters are willing to join a citizens’ panel (79%) or a mixed commission with elected officials and randomly selected citizens (75%).
Based on the results, Indiville spokesperson Isabelle Dresse emphasised the need for sufficient efforts to ensure citizens can make their voices heard. Notably, this could be achieved through a greater use of citizens' assemblies (in which participants are selected to create a group that accurately reflects the community in terms of gender, age, and education level). “A significant majority of Belgians support such initiatives and are ready to take part,” Dresse said.
The survey also highlights a very low level of trust in political representatives, with 69% of Belgians expressing little or no confidence in political parties and their elected officials.
