Diritto Pubblico Comparato ed Europeo

Sommario

Parte prima: il referendum in Spagna. – 1.1. I referendum e la nascita della Costituzione democratica. – 1.2. Il dettato costituzionale e la legge d’attuazione. – 1.3. La prassi referendaria. – Parte seconda: il referendum in Portogallo. – 2.1. I referendum e la nascita della Costituzione democratica. – 2.2. Il dettato costituzionale e la legge d’attuazione. – 2.3. La prassi referendaria.

Abstract

This article describes referendums in Spain and Portugal both from a formal, constitutional perspective and an empirical one. Present-day, democratic Spain was established through two referendums and the Constitution itself contemplates three kinds of referendum: consultivo (art. 92), autonómico (art. 151 e 152) and constituyente (art. 167 e 168). Since the Constitution entered into force in 1978, seven referendums have been held in Spain, five of them were autontómicos while two were consultative. In Portugal referendums are provided for in the 1976 Constitution and by the Lei Orgânica do regime do referendo approved in 1998. The Portuguese Constitution contemplates four types of referendum (national referendum, art. 115; local referendum, art. 240; regional referendum, art. 232.2 and the referendum for the institution of Administrative Regions, art. 256). The first referendums were held in 1998 and concerned the legalization of abortion and the foundation of Administrative Regions. Both referendums failed because the turnout was low and the structural quorum was not reached. In October 2005, following a constitutional amendment, there will be a referendum on the ratification of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.