A French history of the referendum
Briefly

Emmanuel Macron's initiative to hold a series of referendums signals a transformative moment in French politics, contrasting sharply with the rarity of public votes in the country. While Switzerland frequently engages its citizens in direct democracy, France has primarily limited national referendums, with the last notable instance in 2005 resulting in defeat for President Chirac. Macron's upcoming votes, anticipated in the coming months, aim to address significant social and economic reforms, though the details remain undisclosed, raising concerns given the historical challenges faced by such public measures in France.
Emmanuel Macron's upcoming series of referendums marks a significant shift in French politics, offering citizens a chance to directly engage with key social and economic reforms.
Unlike France, where national referendums are infrequent, Switzerland's tradition of direct democracy allows residents to regularly vote on various topics, influencing policy decisions directly.
Macron's announcement comes amid a backdrop of mixed outcomes for previous referendums in France, where past votes often led to government embarrassment, raising questions about their efficacy.
The last major national referendum in France occurred in May 2005, resulting in a notable defeat for then-president Jacques Chirac, highlighting the challenges of appealing directly to voters.
Read at The Local France
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