We are absolutely not involved in the debate regarding whether the result of this citizens’ consultation organized by the municipal opposition group Change of Era is “historic,” as claimed by Patrick Allemand, or “not to be given any credit due to the fact that the organizing conditions were the most unclear,” as Christian Estrosi suggests. Furthermore, it should be put into perspective because “The participation was far from the nearly 100,000 users of line 1, not to mention the tens of thousands of people near the route,” as stated by Robert Injey on behalf of the PC-FG, which is in opposition to the municipal majority as well as the PS-EELV group.
Nevertheless, it remains true that calling on citizens (perhaps under better “public safety” voting conditions*) to confirm or refute decisions is not just “smoke and mirrors” (Christian Estrosi) or intended to “set up pre-municipal maneuvers” (Robert Injey).
The path of participatory democracy is not easy to implement, primarily in people’s mindsets, but it is undoubtedly a good method to bring citizens closer to institutions. This does not detract from the legitimacy and representativeness of elected institutional assemblies.
But what is undemocratic about having some important deliberations submitted for confirmation by a consultation or referendum open to all citizens?
What offense to public law is there in integrating, or even reconciling, representative democracy with participatory democracy?
What fear is there in asking citizens to express themselves directly?
On the other hand, those who criticize this initiative—which was clearly stated before its occurrence to have no legal value—are, in turn, calling for referendums on other subjects at the national level: “marriage for all” from the UMP side and the “fiscal compact European treaty” for PCF/FG.
So, it doesn’t matter whether the result of the citizens’ consultation displayed by the organizers is exactly accurate to the unit or insufficient as a percentage relative to the base consulted.
The “Res Publica” needs symbols.
