This article reviews the new approaches to citizen participation introduced by the statutes of autonomy reformed from 2006 onwards. The reform process included the introduction of participatory values and principles, rights, institutions, competences over popular consultations and participation in the amendment process. By ruling out the possibility of autonomous communities holding referendums without prior state regulation via an organic act, the Constitutional Court has deprived the new statutes of one of the measures with greatest potential for participation. More scope is left for institutions of participatory democracy
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