My opinion on… the quinquennat Referendum
Posted by: Frédéric Van Caenegem in International, Issues & politicsNB : “quinquennat” : French word meaning a 5 years-long mandate. Before this referendum, the French president was elected for a 7 years-long mandate. For many, this was too long.
Yes, a quinquennat referendum appears useless to me. It seems useless to have such a referendum on a subject which is interesting for living room conversations, but is at the end, not very important. There are other ways to change the Constitution without having a referendum in France. But, I believe that I will be the devil’s advocate.
First, I reject the argument according to which it costs money to the taxpayers. I am not fiscalist, but I believe that the organisation of a referendum or an ordinary election for that matter, is probably not very expensive. After all, to consult the population is absolutely necessary in a democracy, it is the best way we found to manage democracy. Therefore, democracy has a price, and this one appears much cheaper to me than the price of dictatorship.
Admittedly our politicians did not use their greater wisdom to decide if it was necessary to consult the population to change the term of the presidential office. A meeting of the Parliament and the motion approved (or not) at a 3/5 majority (I believe) would have appeared to me as the best solution to amend the Constitution. That was done on many occasions under the Fifth Republic. And when the subject is more important (like Maastricht for example), then yes, a referendum appears convenient to me.
If the subject (as the large majority of the French, according to surveys) hardly passionate me, I (unless major circumstance) will vote on September 24. If only by respect towards these million people who fought and still fight in many countries in the hope that one day, they also will live in a society where the government will take the trouble to consult them on such futile topics.
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