Participatory democracy

What is participatory democracy?

Participatory democracy is a form of governance that enables citizens to become more directly involved in the decisions that affect their daily lives and their community.

Complementary to representative democracy (elections of elected representatives), it gives residents the opportunity to contribute to projects, make their voices heard, and become active players in their territory.

In Saint-Avold, the municipality encourages this approach to strengthen dialogue between citizens, elected representatives and municipal services.

It's a way of building together a city that's closer to everyone's needs and expectations.

Participatory bodies in Saint-Avold

Would you like to get involved in your neighborhood or city? Participative bodies give you the opportunity to play a concrete part in the decisions that concern you.

Neighborhood committees: a living link between residents and the city

Since 2020, Saint-Avold has been focusing on citizen participation with the creation of Comités de Quartier.

These forums, open to all, play a key role: making residents' voices heard, generating concrete ideas and co-constructing useful projects for everyday life.

Local players, the committees :

  • the needs of the field,
  • propose actions to improve the living environment,
  • take an active part in discussions on municipal projects

8 neighborhood committees, a territory that listens

Saint-Avold now has 8 neighborhood committees, bringing together around 50 volunteer Naborians and a dozen local players:

  • Downtown / Faubourg
  • Crusem / Langacker / Oderfang
  • Dourd'hal
  • Huchet / Tyrol
  • Joan of Arc / Arcadia
  • La Carrière
  • Lemire
  • Wenheck

Each committee represents its neighborhood, puts forward its ideas, and helps strengthen the link between the population and the municipality. Want to get your neighborhood moving? Join your committee and become an active player in your city!

See the Neighborhood Committees page.

The Municipal Youth Council (CMJ): young people take an active role in their town

Since 2001, the town of Saint-Avold has been offering middle-school students in 5th and 4th grades a unique civic experience through their participation in the Conseil Municipal des Jeunes (CMJ). This initiative encourages young people to learn about citizenship by raising their awareness of democratic processes, the workings of institutions and the responsibilities associated with life in society.

A space for reflection, exchange and action, it offers young people the chance to get involved in the life of their community by :

  • speaking out on issues that concern them;
  • imagining, organizing and carrying out their own projects for the city;
  • representing Nabor's youth at official ceremonies and civic events.

"Want to get Saint-Avold moving? Don't hesitate, become a player in your city with the CMJ!"

Visit the Municipal Youth Council page.

The tools of participatory democracy in Saint-Avold

In addition to these participation bodies, the town of Saint-Avold has set up several tools to encourage citizen expression:

  • Public consultations: public meetings, surveys to gather residents' opinions on major projects.
  • Online consultations, surveys: citizens can give their opinion, vote or answer questionnaires on subjects of local interest.
  • Involving residents in local projects

These tools encourage open participation, accessible to all.

A brief history of participatory democracy

Participatory democracy began to develop in France in the 1990s, with the emergence of new citizen expectations in terms of transparency, dialogue and involvement. The 2002 law on local democracy provided a framework for neighborhood councils in towns with more than 80,000 inhabitants, but many smaller communes - such as Saint-Avold - have also chosen to adopt these participatory tools.

Over the years, participatory democracy has been enriched by innovative approaches to get citizens more involved and more inclusive.

City contact:
Service Démocratie Participative
Responsible: Agnès Brossard
Office 210 - Mairie de Saint-Avold
Tel: +33 3 87 91 94 76 / Mail: a.brossard@mairie-saint-avold.fr