Slovak political reform referendum, 2010

A referendum on political reform was held in Slovakia on 18 September 2010, following a successful petition started as a civil activity along with foundation of the classical liberal Freedom and Solidarity (SaS),^[1] which later became the third-largest party in the National Council. 401,126 signatures were collected, with 386,000 found valid.

The referendum failed to meet the turnout threshold required under the Constitution of Slovakia, with only 22.8% of the electorate voting: far below the 50% required. Large majorities voted in favour of all six proposals, with between 70% and 95% supporting each proposal.^[2]

Referendum

The referendum asked six questions, which had been promoted collectively by SaS as 'Referendum 2009' under their plan to hold such a referendum in 2009:^[3]

• to abolish the television licence (question 1);
• to limit parliamentary immunity (question 2);
• to lower the number of MPs from 150 to 100 by 2014 (question 3);
• to set a maximum price for limousines used by the government at €40,000 (question 4);
• to introduce electronic voting via the internet (question 5); and
• to change the Press Code by removing politicians' automatic right of reply (question 6).

The latter four demands had already been included in the new coalition agreement of the government formed after the 2010 election, which includes SaS.^[4]

Election

A turnout of 50% or more was required for the referendum to be valid.^[5] Only one referendum in Slovak history has ever crossed this threshold: the 2003 vote on EU membership (51.5% turnout).^[6]

Results

Question 1^[7]

Choice	Votes	%
No	90,058	9.02
Yes	870,864	87.24
Invalid or blank votes	37,220	3.72
Total votes	998,142	100.00
Turnout required	50.00
Registered voters and turnout	4,369,553	22.84

Question 2^[7]

Choice	Votes	%
No	17,333	1.73
Yes	952,281	95.40
Invalid or blank votes	28,528	2.85
Total votes	998,142	100.00
Turnout required	50.00
Registered voters and turnout	4,369,553	22.84

Question 3^[7]

Choice	Votes	%
No	38,450	3.85
Yes	925,888	92.76
Invalid or blank votes	33,804	3.38
Total votes	998,142	100.00
Turnout required	50.00
Registered voters and turnout	4,369,553	22.84

Question 4^[7]

Choice	Votes	%
No	61,532	6.16
Yes	886,767	88.84
Invalid or blank votes	49,843	4.99
Total votes	998,142	100.00
Turnout required	50.00
Registered voters and turnout	4,369,553	22.84

Question 5^[7]

Choice	Votes	%
No	221,847	22.22
Yes	703,336	70.46
Invalid or blank votes	72,959	7.30
Total votes	998,142	100.00
Turnout required	50.00
Registered voters and turnout	4,369,553	22.84

Question 6^[7]

Choice	Votes	%
No	134,163	13.44
Yes	747,983	74.93
Invalid or blank votes	115,996	11.62
Total votes	998,142	100.00
Turnout required	50.00
Registered voters and turnout	4,369,553	22.84

External links

• (Slovak) Freedom and Solidarity's campaign website for the referendum

References

1. Vilikovská, Zuzana (7 July 2010). "SaS-initiated referendum to be held on September 18". The Slovak Spectator.
2. "Referendum 2010: Referendum fails due to low turnout, according to preliminary results - updated". The Slovak Spectator. 19 September 2010.
3. http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=61059
4. http://spectator.sme.sk/articles/view/39405/10/slovak_president_gasparovic_will_announce_a_sas_initiated_referendum.html
5. http://www.angus-reid.com/analysis/view/35755/fledgling_party_sets_the_tone_in_slovakia/
6. Miles, Lee (2004). The European Union: Annual Review 2003/2004. London: Wiley-Blackwell. p. 159. ISBN 978-1-4051-1919-1.
7. "Referendum 2010: Voting results". Central Election Commission. Retrieved 2010-09-20.