Bilbao's Civic Council Innovates with Citizen Representation and Participatory Democracy

The Civic Council of Bilbao has undergone significant changes, incorporating citizen representatives into its structure for the first time. On November 14, 2025, Mayor Juan Mari Aburto presided over the inaugural plenary session reflecting these reforms, which followed a year-long participatory process involving political parties and public input. Six citizen members were selected by lottery, emphasizing sociocultural diversity, and participated alongside experts from health, family, and sustainability sectors. The session also discussed modifications to the Council’s composition and the outcomes of thematic commissions on "Care and Demographic Challenges" and "Talent and Employment Opportunities." Supported by Bilbao Metrópoli 30 and prioritized by the Council's Executive Committee, these working groups aim to tackle local challenges with a comprehensive, expert-informed approach. Additionally, a public participatory voting process was initiated to select an "Ilustre de Bilbao" from three nominees. Mayor Aburto highlighted this milestone as an innovative advance in leveraging the experiences and knowledge of diverse members to benefit the community. These developments mark a pioneering effort to enhance local governance through inclusive, participatory democracy in Bilbao. This new structure aims to create a more holistic and representative civic platform to address the city's pressing issues effectively.