“What kind of village centre do we want?”
This was the question that 22 randomly selected residents of Pilisborosjenő, a village in Hungary, came together to answer during a citizens’ assembly held over an entire weekend in November. The event was organised by Sortition Europe in collaboration with the Municipality of Pilisborosjenő.
At the end of September, nearly all village residents received an invitation to the citizens’ assembly via a letter delivered to every mailbox. Of the 74 people who applied, 30 were selected by lottery to ensure the group reflected the village's population of residents over the age of 16, taking into account factors such as gender, age, educational level, place of residence, workplace, the local services they use, and whether they have dependent children living with them.
The first day of the assembly focused on providing participants with information about the village centre’s history and potential development. Participants then created a "problem map," analysing the strengths and weaknesses of the village centre, as well as identifying the opportunities and threats related to its development. On the second day, they defined the needs and priorities of each identified target group, listed development ideas, then they selected and ranked the community action plans.
The assembly's recommendations to the village council include the creation of a "green corridor," the development of a new parking strategy, the establishment of a public park, traffic safety measures, and an economic revitalisation plan for the village centre.
The citizens’ assembly not only allowed participants to directly influence the future of the village centre but also fostered a collaborative environment. The impact extends beyond the assembly itself: the recommendations will spark broader public engagement in the dialogue on the village’s sustainable future and the overall quality of life for its residents.
