Exploring the (e)quality of a multilingual citizens’ assembly: insights from participants in the Biergerkommitee Lëtzebuerg 2050

Abstract

The global ‘deliberative wave’ has brought citizens’ assemblies to the forefront of democratic innovation, yet language—the medium of deliberation—remains understudied. This article explores perceptions of (e)quality in the Luxembourgish Biergerkommitee, where participants deliberated in the country’s three official languages without accommodation. Using survey data, semi-structured interviews, the Perceived Discourse Quality Index, and thematic analysis, the study focuses on participants’ experiences of input and throughput legitimacy. Findings reveal that participants 1) hold nuanced views on input legitimacy, with multilingualism enabling contributions from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds while potentially limiting participation, and 2) perceive strong throughput legitimacy, emphasizing respectful, high-quality deliberation supported by a strict selection criterion, moderation, and group dynamics. The article shows that multilingualism functioned not as a barrier but as a resource for rich deliberations and, most importantly, representation of Luxembourg’s sociolinguistic reality. Overall, the research highlights language as a core element shaping inclusivity and authenticity in CAs.