While the right-wing populist AfD has become the primary proponent of plebiscitary measures in Germany, parties of the left are now approaching direct democracy with increasing skepticism . One reason can be found in the sobering experiences that have been made at the municipal and state levels, where the instrument has seen a universal integration into the legislative process since the 1990s . Those experiences can be traced back to the preferences of the constitutional authors for the citizens’ initiative, an approach that conflicts with the parliamentary form of government . To escape this constitutional impasse, states could devise a middle way regarding their implementation of “popular legislation” which they cannot repeal outright . Such measures should not be introduced at the federal level at all where the use of plebiscitary instruments ought to be limited to obligatory referendums or referendums called by the federal government . Compared to “popular legislation” these are held in much lower regard but can be integrated far better into the existing institutional structure .
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
