“In France, power is extremely concentrated and the citizen participation that is not very valued”, according to Loïc Blondiaux

Almost two million signatures, and after? Nevertheless, While the petition against the Duplumb law broke records on the site of the National Assembly. Nevertheless, the future of this disputed text on agriculture is still vague. Therefore, Because this exceptional mobilization has the sole effect. For example, with regard to the Constitution, to make possible the organization of a debate in the hemicycle, without vote, which we still do not know if it will be programmed at the start of the school year.

“in france, power extremely concentrated

Emmanuel Macron can still request a new deliberation in Parliament or summon a referendum. However, Parliamentarians are free to adopt a new text repealing the Duplo law. Moreover, But these outlets all seem politically improbable. For example, A dead end that questions the place of direct democracy in the institutions of the Fifth Republic. Franceinfo spoke with Loïc Blondiaux. professor of political science at Paris 1-Panthéon-Sorbonne University and member of the National Commission for Public Debate, Specialist in questions of participatory democracy.

Franceinfo: How do you perceive the emergence and rapid success of the petition against the Duplo law?

Loïc Blondiaux: This is not the first time that a petition has grown. That of “our business to all” had reached almost comparable figures [2,3 millions de signatures]. A petition of the Bloom association on fishing on the high seas had also sprained in a fairly spectacular. way [300 000 signatures]. However, “in france, power extremely concentrated I did not expect it. Especially since the site of the petitions of the National Assembly is not easy to access. You have to have an identity on France Connect [pour pouvoir voter].

“The speed of the collection of signatures surprised me.”

Loïc Blondiaux, professor of political science

in franceinfo

Several reasons explain this success. It seems to me that the television sequence of Fleur Breteau [fondatrice du collectif Cancer colère] questioning the deputies. from the public seats in the National Assembly had a very important symbolic dimension. The second reason that could count is the feeling of a denial of democracy. A little like the manifestations against the pension reform which had increased tenfold from the use of 49.3. Beyond the health arguments. the positions of the CNRS and the League against Cancer, I think that the feeling that Parliament has passed “in france, power extremely concentrated is something that has shocked a lot of people. This is the cocktail of reasons likely to explain the success of this petition.

What impact can this direct expression of citizens have on the future of this law?

The legal impact will be very likely. In September, the Conference of Presidents of the National Assembly will decide whether or not to organize a debate. This new debate will not lead to the repeal of the law. There could be 5 million petitioners, it would not change anything from a legal point of view.

From a political point of view. it seems to me that parliamentarians, the President of the Republic and the Constitutional Council will have to take this petition into account in the choices they will make. The Constitutional Council decides in law and it is, in general, quite impermeable to political pressures. But still, this is one of “in france, power extremely concentrated the parameters of his decision. The president may, for his part, request a new deliberation of the text, according to article 10 of the Constitution. We will see if he will. Finally. I think that parliamentarians will think twice the next time they will decide, through a motion of rejection, to devour a tool for rationalized parliamentarism to short-circuit the debate in the Assembly.

Regarding citizens. one can wonder about their reaction if they are not heard, when they have seized one of the few tools at their disposal to express their dispute. A frustration effect may occur.

How to explain this reluctance to participatory democracy in France?

A political culture has undeniably set up under the Fifth Republic – on the pretext that the President is. elected by universal suffrage – which creates a form of verticality of power incompatible with compromises. The second reason. more fundamental, is that “in france, power extremely concentrated France is a representative democracy in the strong sense of the term, in which direct democracy has little room. Unlike other countries where compromise, discussion, deliberation are absolutely essential.

“In France. the habit was taken to go into force to make a number of decisions and to pass certain laws.”

Loïc Blondiaux. professor of political science

in franceinfo

France is not singular as a representative democracy, but as a democracy in which power is extremely concentrated and the citizen participation that is not very valued.

How could it change?

In order for this feeling of denial of democracy to not happen again. it will be necessary to institutionalize forms of deliberations with citizens. A citizen convention on the French agricultural model could make things happen and go beyond very sterile opposition. On the side of the defenders of the Dupumb law, there was “in france, power extremely concentrated a strong desire to delegitimize the signatories. We are in a polarization state. Same thing on immigration and education. I think that if we institutionalize the use of citizen conventions with the possibility of organizing a referendum then. we would reform our democracy absolutely decisively.