My vision of the referendum and giving the French a voice again
I want to enshrine in the Constitution a clearer tool for giving the French a voice again when the country faces decisions that truly matter.
A democracy where the people can be consulted
In a democracy, the people should not simply vote once and then watch officials decide on their behalf for years at a stretch. On the major choices that shape daily life — the budget, the territories, public services, sovereignty, or how the country is organized — the French must be able to be consulted directly when circumstances call for it.
A tool that does not replace Parliament
This tool must not replace Parliament. It must push Parliament to act in the country's interest. When the National Assembly is deadlocked, when parties play games with each other, when an important bill turns into a political battlefield, the president must be able to put the matter to the people. He is the guarantor of the institutions functioning properly, and must be able to rely on the people to keep the country moving forward — not through a simplistic question or a phrase tossed out in anger, but with a clear briefing explaining what is being proposed, what it could deliver, what it could cost, what it would change, and what limits need to be understood before deciding. This also helps avoid resorting to Article 49.3 and avoids needless tension in the country.
The voice of local authorities
I also want these rules to let local authorities weigh in when decisions affect them directly. A municipality, a department, a region, or an overseas territory should no longer find out, after the fact, about burdens, rules, or obligations decided far from the ground. When a measure reshapes their organization, their resources, or their future, their voice must count.
The merits of this rule
This rule has several merits:
- It avoids forcing through decisions when the country needs stability.
- It breaks a parliamentary deadlock without humiliating Parliament.
- It obliges the assemblies to then implement what the French have chosen.
- It restores accountability to public decision-making.
A serious referendum
A serious referendum must not be a political stunt. It must be an act of national governance. Before the vote, the French must have what they need to understand the issue. After the vote, elected officials must be duty-bound to carry it out.
The role of the president, the people, and the assemblies
The president sets the direction. The people approve or reject. The assemblies then work to turn that decision into law that is enforceable, accountable, and respectful of civil liberties.
A democracy that gives the French back their voice
This is how we put real meaning back into a phrase repeated far too often without always being lived up to: a State governed by the people, for the people.
I want a democracy that doesn't simply claim to speak for the French. I want a democracy willing to hand them back their voice when what matters most is at stake.