This paper highlights the critical role that e-participation platforms play in enhancing trust in government and fostering a democratic society, and proposes a method for utilizing chatbots to address the challenges of integrating citizen feedback. Drawing on media richness theory and design science research methods, we developed a large-scale language model-based chatbot, "AskThePublic," leveraging the European Commission's "Have Your Say" platform. This chatbot provides policymakers, journalists, researchers, and citizens with a convenient channel for exploring and engaging with citizen opinions. Semi-structured interviews with 11 public sector professionals revealed positive feedback on AskThePublic's interactive and structured responses and enhanced language skills.