The contours of the "great national debate" are clarified. After several days of vagueness, the government said Monday the arrangements, in a statement sent Monday evening by Matignon. Citizens wishing to take part in the "big debate", which will take place from January 15 to March 15, have several possibilities: go directly to a meeting organized locally, or send proposals on the site www.granddebat.fr, created especially for the occasion.
Who can organize a debate?
"Citizens, elected officials and institutions, for-profit or not-for-profit organizations: the government wants the greatest number to participate and organize debates," writes Matignon. Clearly, meetings can be organized throughout France, and in multiple forms: debates in town halls, residents, markets or workplaces. The government also invites "mayors who wish" to organize or facilitate the organization of debates.
In addition to these local meetings, "booths" will be installed in "places of daily passage" (stations, public places, etc.), encouraging citizens to participate in the "big debate". "Regional Citizens' Conferences" will also be organized from 1 March, with French people drawn by lot, who will also be able to give their opinion.
Finally, citizens will have the opportunity to contribute to the debate from 21 January on the website www.granddebat.fr, or by post (Mission Grand Debate - 244 boulevard Saint-Germain, 750007 Paris). Note that a toll-free number is also in place (0 800 97 11 11 in mainland France and 01 82 71 03 39 for overseas).
How to organize a debate?
To organize a debate, it is necessary to register it on the website of the "big debate". A "methodological kit", that is to say a user manual, will be available on the "grand debate" website. Each meeting will result in a report, a template of which is provided on the online platform.
But the organizational arrangements remain unclear. What information (date, time, number of people expected ...) will provide the organizers? Will it be necessary to declare the meeting in advance? The "methodological kit", which should be available on January 15, is supposed to answer these questions.
What can we talk about?
As Emmanuel Macron wrote in his letter to the French, the government intends to mark the "big debate" on four themes: taxation and public spending, the organization of public services, the ecological transition and democracy and citizenship. Presentation sheets of these themes, with "contextual elements and points of debate", will be available on the "big debate" website to help the organizers.