Direct co-determination as the foundation of political legitimacy: The importance of binding referendums for a living democracy
Binding referendums are understood as an instrument that gives citizens an immediate opportunity to make fundamental political decisions themselves and thus to put the legitimacy of government action on a broader basis. When people experience that their voice is not only symbolic, but actually has an effect, a trust in thepolitical structures that cannot be replaced by any other form of participation.
A corrective to political misdevelopment
The possibility of legitimizing decisions directly by the population acts like a corrective that can limit undesirable political developments because governments and parliaments know that key issues cannot be decided without being tied back to the will of the citizens. This feedback creates a political culture in which those responsible not only for their decisionshave to admit, but also bear the consequences if they move too far away from the expectations of the population.
Preventing political ignorance of citizen interests
Binding referendums prevent policymakers from simply rejecting or ignoring results, because they create a clear obligation to implement the will of the population. This reduces the distance between citizens and political leadership because people experience that their concerns are not ignored, but rather in concrete decisionsflow in.
Strengthening the political self-confidence of the population
When citizens can vote directly on important questions, a feeling of political participation emerges that goes far beyond the election act. The experience of having an influence on fundamental decisions strengthens political self-confidence and promotes an active engagement with social issues that are otherwise often perceived as remote or inaccessible.
Clear priorities by the population
Referendums enable the population to set priorities that are not overlaid by party political interests. The decisions directly reflect what is important to people and thus create a basis that bases policy on broad social approval and promotes long-term stability.
Conflict resolution through broad legitimacy
In socially controversial issues, binding referendums can defuse conflicts because they put decisions on a broad democratic basis. If a result is directly from the population, there is an acceptance that party-political majorities alone often cannot achieve, and political disputes are losing sharpness.
An indispensable element of modern democracy
Overall, it is evident that binding referendums are an indispensable element of modern democracy because they ensure that key questions are not passed by the citizens. They strengthen political culture, increase the responsibility of decision-makers and create a form of co-determination that deepens the democratic process andstrengthening the connection between the population and the state.
