Student Selected for the Third Edition of the Os 230 Citizens' Committees

Natália Roman Ramires, aged 22, a student on the Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and International Relations at Lusófona University and a researcher at the Gamification in International Relations Lab (GIRI-HUB), has been selected to join the third edition of the Os 230 Citizens' Committees as a Citizen-Member of Parliament. The initiative promotes civic participation and brings citizens closer to political decision-making processes, providing an opportunity to debate, analyse and develop proposals on issues relevant to Portuguese society.

Organised by Os 230, an independent, non-partisan association dedicated to strengthening Portuguese democracy, the Citizens' Committees replicate the functioning of the standing parliamentary committees of the Assembly of the Republic. The project brings together citizens from different backgrounds and experiences to analyse public policies, follow political debates, hear from experts and develop proposals intended to contribute to the national political agenda.

In its third edition, the initiative brings together 230 participants across 14 thematic committees, who dedicate approximately four hours per week to the project. Between October 2026 and July 2027, the Citizen-Members of Parliament take part in fortnightly online meetings and join working groups responsible for developing concrete proposals. The process requires preparation, critical thinking skills, well-founded arguments and a willingness to engage in dialogue across different perspectives.

Experience from previous editions demonstrates the initiative's potential to establish channels of communication between civil society and political institutions. Following public consultation processes and a final vote, the approved proposals were presented to Members of the Assembly of the Republic and members of the Government. In the first edition, 49 proposals were developed on topics such as artificial intelligence, affordable housing, media sustainability and decentralisation.

Selection for the Citizens' Committees is a competitive process. The first edition received approximately 1,400 applications for 230 places, reflecting the level of interest in the initiative. The criteria considered include applicants' backgrounds, civic commitment and motivation to participate in the project.

In the case of Natália Roman Ramires, the organisation highlighted her experience and civic engagement. The student expressed particular interest in the committees on National Defence, European Affairs, and Foreign Affairs and Portuguese Communities, areas directly related to her academic studies and the research activities she carries out at GIRI-HUB.

Natália's participation also represents recognition of the importance of involving young researchers in opportunities for public debate and engagement. The experience will enable her to further develop skills in political analysis, negotiation, communication and proposal development, establishing a connection between university education, applied research and mechanisms for democratic participation.

Her selection highlights the relevance of GIRI-HUB, a research project associated with the Lusófona Centre on Global Challenges (LusoGlobe), in promoting experiences that bring academic knowledge closer to contemporary institutional and political challenges, encouraging students to participate actively in public life.