2010 Slovak political reform referendum
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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 Freedom and Solidarity (SaS).[1] 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]
Background
[edit]The referendum was the initiative of SaS's leaders, who had promoted the campaign as "Referendum 2009". Its organizers aimed to hold the referendum at the same time as the first election SaS was contesting, the June 2009 European parliament election. A second target period was late May, during municipal elections in Slovakia.[3] However, the referendum was ultimately held the following year.[1]
Referendum
[edit]Then Slovak president Ivan Gašparovič set the date for the referendum after SaS collected 401,126 signatures for it, 386,000 of which were found to be valid.[1] The referendum asked six questions:[4]
- 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 parliamentary election, which included SaS.[5]
Results
[edit]All six proposals were approved by a supermajority of those who voted; however, a turnout of 50% or more was required for the referendum to be valid.[6] Only 22.8% of voters cast a ballot for the referendum, rendering it invalid.[2] Only one referendum in Slovak history has ever crossed the threshold: the 2003 vote on EU membership (51.5% turnout).[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/turnout | 4,369,553 | 22.84 |
| 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/turnout | 4,369,553 | 22.84 |
| 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/turnout | 4,369,553 | 22.84 |
| 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/turnout | 4,369,553 | 22.84 |
| 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/turnout | 4,369,553 | 22.84 |
| 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/turnout | 4,369,553 | 22.84 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Vilikovská, Zuzana (7 July 2010). "SaS-initiated referendum to be held on September 18". The Slovak Spectator. Archived from the original on 10 July 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
- ^ a b "Referendum 2010: Referendum fails due to low turnout, according to preliminary results - updated". The Slovak Spectator. 19 September 2010. Archived from the original on 21 September 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
- ^ "Referendum 2009 committee seeks simultaneous vote with parliamentary elections". The Slovak Spectator. 26 January 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
- ^ "Referendum 2010". volby.statistics.sk. Government of Slovakia. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
- ^ "Slovak President Gašparovič will announce a SaS-initiated referendum". 29 June 2010. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
- ^ "Fledgling Party Sets the Tone in Slovakia: Angus Reid Global Monitor". Archived from the original on 19 August 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
- ^ Miles, Lee (2004). The European Union: Annual Review 2003/2004. London: Wiley-Blackwell. p. 159. ISBN 978-1-4051-1919-1.
- ^ a b c d e f "Referendum 2010: Voting results". Central Election Commission. Archived from the original on 22 September 2010. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
