Facts and Arguments about the Introduction of Initiative and ...

Lithuania
This Baltic republic has good provisions: it has the compulsory
constitutional referendum, the optional referendum
and the popular initiative. From 1991 to the present
(March 2006), 18 national referendums have been held.
However, because of the high participation quorum – 50%
of the voters – many referendums have been declared
invalid. In 2002 and 2003, referendum law was amended:
the participation quorum was reduced for referendums on
membership of international organisations to which sovereignty
is transferred. The opportunistic reason was that
the political elite wanted the referendum of May 2003 on
accession to the European Union to succeed at all costs.
For all other subjects, the participation quorum remains
unchanged. There is no form of direct democracy at regional
and local levels.
Examples
In 1996, no less than five national referendums were held
(of which four were on the same day). The sale of farmland
to certain parties was approved by 52.0% of the voters;
79.6% voted for compensating citizens who had lost
possessions under communism; 78.7% voted for the lowering
of the number of seats in parliament from 141 to 111;
77.3% voted for holding parliamentary elections every four
years on the second Sunday in March; and 76.9% approved
a measure by which at least half the annual budget is spent
on social policy. In 2003, 92.0% of the voters supported accession
to the European Union.
The Netherlands
Within Europe, the Netherlands probably has the least experience
with referendums. The Constitution – which is very
difficult to amend – does not allow any binding popular
votes. At the municipal level, however, some 125 non-binding
referendums have been held since 1912 – a majority
of them plebiscites. During the 1990s, a number of municipalities
introduced the citizens’ initiative corrective referendum.
In the capital, Amsterdam, seven referendums
have already been held since 1992. Under the pressure of
public opinion, more and more political parties are now in
favour of introducing a corrective referendum based on the
Italian example. But this requires a change to the constitution,
which failed by a hair’s breadth in 1999. Following
the referendum on the European Constitution, this will be
attempted again.
Examples
In 2005, the first national plebiscite since 1815 took place.
On a turnout of 63.3%, the European Constitution was rejected
by 61.5% of the voters.
Norway
The Norwegian constitution dates from 1814, and does
not provide for any form of direct democracy. The parliament
(the ‘Storting’) can, however, hold a non-binding
plebiscite. Since 1905, six national plebiscites have been
held in this way. There is also an extensive tradition of
plebiscites at municipal level, where about 500 plebiscites
have taken place since 1972. In 2003, the parliament introduced
the citizens’ initiative referendum at the municipal
level. This enables 300 citizens to put a specific subject
to a popular vote.
Examples
In 1972, membership of the European Community was
rejected by 53.5% of the voters; in 1994, there was a new
vote on membership of the European Union with a similar
result: 52.2% against.
Austria
Austria has a compulsory and binding referendum for
complete revisions of the constitution. Partial constitutional
revisions are subject to a referendum if at least one
third of the ‘Nationalrat ‘ (parliament) or the ‘Bundesrat’
(representatives of the federal states) request such changes
to the constitution. The ‘Nationalrat’ can also hold a binding
plebiscite on an ordinary law. Two national plebiscites
have been held since 1945. There is no popular initiative
referendum at the national level. By collecting 100,000
signatures, citizens can, however, submit a petition to the
parliament (‘Volksbegehren’). The option is regularly used,
but it does not lead to a referendum. In two of the nine
states (Upper Austria and Steyermark), however, there is a
popular initiative referendum, as well as citizens’ initiatives
in all municipalities.
Examples
In 1978, a plebiscite was held on the commissioning of the
nuclear power station at Zwentendorf. Start-up was rejected by
a narrow majority of 50.5%. In 1994, the people approved accession
to the European Community by a majority of 66.6%.
Poland
The Polish constitution, adopted by plebiscite in 1997, does
not include the popular initiative referendum. However,
the country does have a scheme for plebiscites and these
are regularly held. Plebiscites are valid if 50% of the registered
voters take part. Since 1996, seven plebiscites have
been held, of which the last two were binding.
Examples
On one day in 1996, no less than five plebiscites were held.
The votes concerned three privatisation proposals (all rejected,
by respectively 96.2%, 91.3% and 76.8% of the voters)
and two pension proposals (both also rejected by 95.1%
and 96.0% of the voters). In 2003, membership of the European
Union was approved by 77.5% of the voters.
Slovakia
Slovakia has several direct-democratic instruments. With
350,000 signatures, citizens can launch either an optional
referendum or a popular initiative. `Fundamental citizens’
rights’, taxes, the budget and levies are excluded. Accession
to an international association of states is subject to a compulsory
referendum. The government or the parliament can
also hold a plebiscite on a subject of their choosing. There
have been nine national plebiscites since 1994. The high participation
quorum of 50% of the voters often causes referendums
to fail. The referendum of 2003 on accession to the EU
was heavily criticised as being unfair for its opponents.
Examples
In 1998, 84.3% voted against the privatisation of ‘strategic
industries’, especially electricity companies. In 2000, 95.1%
voted for holding snap elections. In 2003, 92.7% approved