Le référendum d'initiative populaire en Italie : une longue traversée du désert

Abstract

Although the popular referendum is part of Italy's 1948 constitution, the political parties in power, out of fear that it become an efficient tool in the opposition's hands, delayed for more than 20 years putting it into practice. h was finally institutionalized in 1970, and since then has met on various occasions with caution or hostility from the political parties. There are different opinions on these ten years of referenda: disappointing in some respects, the referendum succeeded in mobilizing public opinion, shaking the political parties and speeding up the legislative process.