On 22 March 2025, LEGITIMULT’s second Citizens’ Jury took place in Izola, Slovenia, and was hosted by the Institute for Ethnic Studies.

Local residents came together to reflect on how crisis management during the Covid-19 pandemic was experienced and perceived across different levels of government. The deliberative sessions focused on key principles such as fairness, effectiveness, and legitimacy of the measures adopted at national, regional, and municipal levels. Through open discussion and shared personal experiences, participants examined what worked well — and where critical gaps remained — in the public response to the crisis. The insights they generated provide a valuable basis for shaping practical tools and strategies to strengthen crisis governance in the future. Among the key takeaways were the need for transparent communication and inclusive decision-making processes. Both were seen as essential to build and maintain institutional trust, and to ensure that responses to future emergencies are not only efficient but also perceived as legitimate by the public.