What remains of the referendum on a citizen initiative

Abstract

The referendum as a mechanism of citizen participation incorporated in the Political Constitution of 1993, at the time, was considered a positive contribution as it allowed a more dynamic participation of the organized society and the electoral body. However, gradually, its exercise has been restricted; and the most worrying thing is that it has been produced as a political response to concrete situations, which have been described throughout the development of ideas. This paper shows the continuous process of restriction and unfair limitation to the exercise of the right to participate in the political life of the nation, from the promulgation of the Political Constitution of 1993 to the present, finally showing a negative balance.