The legislative procedure of single reading in the Foral Community of Navarre

Abstract

The legislative procedure in a single reading in Navarre is analysed. The formal meaning of its enabling budgets and the uniqueness of its processing – agreement of the Board and the Spokespersons’ Committee – and development – presentation and approval of partial amendments to guarantee the representation of minorities – are made evident.

It is noted that the so-called “single reading” in Navarre is not, strictly speaking, a single reading, since the final vote on the entire bill or proposition of law by the Plenary of the Chamber is carried out prior to the procedure of presentation and approval of partial  amendments to the original text.

It is clear that this legislative procedure, thus regulated, does not reach the agreed procedure of the reform of the LORAFNA or the update of the Economic Agreement, so that, in both cases, the authorization or rejection by the Foral Parliament of the solution agreed by the Government of the Nation and the Foral Council without processing and approval of amendments affects its democratic legitimacy.

The progressive increase in this abbreviated procedure is verified, as the issues that make up the identity of the Autonomous Community of Navarre are consolidated; also the progressive insertion of urgency in the legislative procedure in single reading, and – to a lesser extent –, in bills processed in single reading whose urgency derives from Decree-Laws; the coexistence of single reading with other specialties in the Navarrese legislative procedure is also noted: approval of General Accounts, or requirement of...