This case study is part of a series supporting the toolkit for communicators on citizen participation. Read the full toolkit for communicators supporting citizen participation. The toolkit was created by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Innovative, Digital and Open Governance (INDIGO) Division in collaboration with UK Government Communications.
Process
The French government launched the Grand Débat National at the beginning of 2019 in response to the “Yellow Vests” protests. These demonstrations began as a reaction to a planned increase in the fuel tax and quickly evolved into a broader movement expressing public discontent with economic inequality.
To address citizens’ concerns, the government organised a national consultation between January and April 2019. French citizens were invited to discuss four major themes: taxation and public spending, public services, environmental issues, and democracy and citizenship. More than 10,000 public meetings were held in person across the country, mainly by municipalities. The Grand Débat also included 22 regional conferences for which 100 citizens were randomly selected and met for two consecutive days to formulate recommendations.
Role of communications
The Grand Débat National was launched with a personal letter from the President of the Republic encouraging public participation. A dedicated online platform was developed to enable online consultation and promote the accessibility of the Great National Debate to everyone, in order to collect written contributions and ensure transparency. The platform also allowed users to locate and register for in-person meetings in their area. The Government Information Service supported the call for participation in the Grand Débat National through a communication campaign on social media. After the consultation period, the President publicly outlined how citizens’ contributions would shape new policy directions, reinforcing the government’s commitment to listening and responding.
Outcome
At the conclusion of the Grand Débat, the contributions from the platform, as well as the contributions posted online, were synthesised and made available on the website. The paper contributions were digitised and deposited in the national and departmental archives.
During a subsequent press conference, the President announced a series of policy measures inspired by the consultation. These included a reduction in income tax, better enforcement of alimony payments to single mothers, the generalisation of the “maisons France services”, the organisation of a Citizens’ Convention on Climate and other social measures aimed at addressing the concerns raised during the debates.