The Regional Initiative Referendum (RIR)
A direct democracy mechanism inspired by Switzerland, structured to become an instrument of collective intelligence in the service of popular sovereignty.
The two RIR tools
Propose the law
- A citizen committee drafts a bill
- Admissibility review (compliance with the Constitution)
- 18 months to collect signatures from 4% of the electorate
- The Regional Council accepts it or submits it to popular vote (with a counter-proposal possible)
Control the law
- After a law is passed by the Regional Council
- 100 days to collect signatures from 2% of the electorate
- The law is suspended and put to popular vote
- The verdict of the ballot box is final
Constitutional safeguards
Every initiative is checked by an independent legal authority: it cannot violate fundamental rights or the Federal Constitution. A bulwark against the "tyranny of the majority."
All votes are grouped into 2 to 4 "voting days" per year, on fixed dates. The demanding signature threshold is the natural regulator against proliferation.
Before each vote, mandatory distribution of a booklet presenting the text, the arguments for, the arguments against, and any counter-proposal in an impartial manner.
Strong digital identity, end-to-end encryption, individual verifiability and public source code — in addition to traditional ballot box voting.
Campaign financing: preventing the power of money
- Donation cap: maximum €500 per natural or legal person
- Spending cap: total budget capped per side (yes/no)
- Public assistance: identical flat sum paid to each side upon validation
- Radical transparency: all donations viewable online in real time