The Constitutional Referenda

Abstract

Within a little over a year, from August 1932 to October 1933, Estonians voted three times in referenda on the question of fundamental constitutional reform. It was the issue of constitutional reform that brought the Veterans to the fore and almost propelled them into power. The use of popular initiative allowed this extra-parliamentary group to achieve an extraordinary amount of influence on the course of events. This period witnessed unprecedented political activity and instability that shook the Republic to its foundations and led to the greatest crisis of its existence, resulting in the demise of democracy and the establishment of an authoritarian regime.