Perceived Legitimacy of Lay Citizens in Decision-Making Processes: The Case of the Citizens' Assembly for Climate of Catalonia

In response to social pressures and activism, particularly the persistent efforts of Extinction Rebellion advocating for greater citizen involvement in climate policy action, the Citizens' Assembly for Climate of Catalonia was launched. From November 2023 to February 2024, 100 randomly selected citizens deliberated on two critical policy dilemmas: the deployment of renewable energy and the future of the agri-food system in the region. This case provides a valuable opportunity to assess how lay citizens perceive their roles in decision-making processes and how they are perceived by policymakers.

This paper explores the perceived legitimacy articulated by two groups: assembly participants and elected officials of the Catalan Parliament. Through document analysis, participant observation, and semi-structured interviews, this research aims to capture how both groups perceive the role of ordinary citizens in decision-making processes, their political competence, and the roles that media and politicians might play in such assemblies. Furthermore, the study examines how the learning, facilitation, deliberation, and recommendation-making processes may promote meaningful engagement, balancing the diverse backgrounds of the participants.

The study also addresses legitimacy demands on how to integrate randomly selected citizens in decision-making processes beyond this case. This includes exploring factors that can enhance both public and institutional trust in the work of randomly selected citizens, how to connect this work with political institutions and broader society, and how to honor the outcomes of these assemblies. These two types of legitimacy demands will be analyzed to identify points of convergence and potential tensions. The findings will also be contrasted with similar studies from other regions, positioning the Catalan experience within a global framework of democratic innovation and perceived legitimacy in citizen engagement.