BRATISLAVA, September 11, (WEBNOVINY) — Seven days remain until voters in Slovakia will be asked to decide a referendum on the six issues. In order to be valid, more than half of all eligible voters would have to vote in the referendum on Saturday, September 18. Under the Constitution, results of a referendum are valid „if a majority of eligible voters participated, and if the decision was taken by absolute majority of votes in the referendum.” Results of the voting in historically the seventh referendum in Slovakia should be known a few hours after polling stations close. The Statistics Office assumes it would release unofficial results about an hour after midnight Sunday.
Organization of the referendum is managed by the Interior Ministry. The referendum was initiated by the Freedom and Solidarity Party (SaS) that collected about 400,000 signatures for their petition during the election campaign ahead of parliamentary elections. President Ivan Gasparovic set the date of the referendum for September 18. People will be asked to express their opinion on six questions: 1. Do you agree that the Slovak Parliament passes a bill that removes the obligation of individuals and legal persons to pay license fees public service provided by Slovak Television and Slovak Radio?; 2. Do you agree that by a law the Slovak Parliament extends the possibility to prosecute as an offense any offense under the Minor Offences Act committed by a member of the Slovak Parliament? (narrowing of immunity from prosecution — editor’s note); 3. You agree that by a Constitutional Law the Slovak Parliament reduces the number of its members to one hundred with effect from the next election term?; 4. You agree that the Slovak Parliament adopts a law establishing that public authorities can procure cars to cost no more than 40,000 euros?; 5. Do you agree that the Slovak Parliament establishes the possibility to elect members of the Slovak Parliament and the Members of the European Parliament on the Internet? and 6. Do you agree that a law is passed by the Slovak Parliament excluding persons exercising executive powers in the government from the right of reply according to the Press Act?
The SaS, which succeeded in the elections and became a member of the ruling coalition, has managed to get four points from the referendum into the program statement of the new center-right governing coalition of the SDKU-DS, SaS, KDH, and MOST-HID.
Voting in the referendum will only be possible on the territory of Slovakia, where 5,060 polling stations will be open from 7:00 to 22:00 next Saturday.
Of the six referendums held since the establishment of an independent Slovakia in 1993, four have failed – in 1994, 1998, 2000 and 2004. In 1997, the referendum was thwarted by authorities. So far, only one referendum, in May 2003, on the accession to the EU was valid. Turnout then was 52.15 percent of eligible voters.
SITA
