Du regionalisme au federalisme

In: Pouvoirs: revue française d'études constitutionnelles et politiques, Heft 103, S. 81-91

Abstract

The introduction of regional autonomy, as established in the 1948 Constitution, has been slow and gradual, taking the shape of an administrative decentralization despite the legislative power granted to the regions created by the Constitution. Following the 1993 laws regarding the local authorities and the 1999 laws regarding the regions whose power has been granted a high level of legitimacy, the contemporary phase is being characterized by a constitutional change (revision of 2001) which has given the regions their own legislative authority, in addition to new financial resources, and has guaranteed, through the principle of subsidiarity, the autonomy of the communes and cities. However, the implementation of this reform, which is being delayed by centralizing resistance, may lead to different types of federalism, certain groups going as far as proposing a 'devolution' that would challenge the permanence of territorial solidarity. Adapted from the source document.