Emmanuel Macron had warned the French: in his road map by 2025, the President of the Republic indicated that he could ask the French to “decide some of these determining issues.” A direct consultation that is gaining impulse, since the head of state spoke of “several referendums” in the coming months, without participating in issues or a calendar.
This procedure, used ten times under the fifth Republic, allows voters to consult directly on a question or a text. At the end of this consultation, people must vote for adoption, or not, of a law, according to article 11 of the Constitution.
It should not be confused with the constituent referendum, according to article 89, which allows to review a text.
Specific topics for choosing during a referendum
The referendum can be organized “at the initiative of the President of the Republic, either in a proposal of the Government or on the joint proposal of the National Assembly and the Senate,” said the official French administration website.
When taking the form of a question related to the topic on which it carries, the referendum offers two answers to the voters: yes/for and not/against.
If Emmanuel Macron comes to propose this procedure, he will have to summon citizens as in the elections.
The issue of a referendum must correspond to the issues that concern “the organization of public authorities, [l]The reform related to the economic, social or environmental policy of the Nation and the public services that contribute to it “, in accordance with article 11.
Active help to die, pension reform, immigration, children’s screen time … Many subjects are possible in the context of a referendum, in view of the many current problems that France is happening. Emmanuel Macron, however, has listed certain issues that have their preference more than others. Therefore, a referendum is expected on the end of life in case of blockade in Parliament. On the other hand, immigration does not have its preference.
The local referendum voted in 2003
During the referendum, the Constitutional Council must guarantee the “regularity of referendum operations” and must also be in charge of proclaiming the results.
“Once the proclamation took place, the results can no longer be disputed. The law or constitutional review adopted after the referendum cannot be subject to constitutionality control,” said the official website of the Constitutional Council.
Since a law was approved in 2003, there have now been local referendums. More than a minimum rate of 50% participation, municipalities, departments, regions and several communities have the possibility of making a referendum. This is what happened in 2016, where François Hollande launched a local referendum in a project of the Notre-Dame-Des-Londes airport.
Source: BFM TV
