Italian referendum, 1997

Last updated
Italy-Emblem.svg
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Italy
Constitution
Foreign relations

A seven-part referendum was held in Italy on 15 June 1997. [1] Voters were asked whether they approved of the repealing of laws on topics including privatisation, conscientious objectors, hunting, the judiciary and journalists, as well as whether the Ministry of Agrarian Politics should be abolished. [2] Although all seven proposals were approved by voters, the voter turnout of 30% was well below the 50% threshold and the results were invalidated. [2]

Italy republic in Southern Europe

Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe. Located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, Italy shares open land borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia and the enclaved microstates San Marino and Vatican City. Italy covers an area of 301,340 km2 (116,350 sq mi) and has a largely temperate seasonal and Mediterranean climate. With around 61 million inhabitants, it is the fourth-most populous EU member state and the most populous country in Southern Europe.

A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, or religion.

Contents

Results

Repealing of the law on the golden share of the Minister of the Treasury during privatisation

ChoiceVotes%
For9,539,49374.1
Against3,340,90825.9
Invalid/blank votes1,893,077
Total14,789,140100
Registered voters/turnout49,054,24630.1
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Repealing of the law restricting conscientious objectors

ChoiceVotes%
For9,561,02371.7
Against3,775,59728.3
Invalid/blank votes1,512,005
Total14,054,246100
Registered voters/turnout49,054,24630.3
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Repealing of the law allowing hunters access to private property

ChoiceVotes%
For10,936,63680.9
Against2,581,67819.1
Invalid/blank votes1,288,736
Total14,816,324100
Registered voters/turnout49,054,24630.2
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Repealing of the law on judges' careers

ChoiceVotes%
For10,786,08283.6
Against2,123,40816.4
Invalid/blank votes1,870,302
Total14,792,077100
Registered voters/turnout49,054,24630.2
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Repealing of the law on admission to the Order of Journalists

ChoiceVotes%
For8,322,14265.5
Against4,380,24634.5
Invalid/blank votes2,010,618
Total14,054,246100
Registered voters/turnout49,054,24630.0
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Repealing of the law allowing judges to do other work

ChoiceVotes%
For11,160,91485.6
Against1,879,88514.4
Invalid/blank votes1,759,867
Total14,811,569100
Registered voters/turnout49,054,24630.2
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Abolishing the Ministry of Agrarian Politics

ChoiceVotes%
For8,589,84766.9
Against4,258,96833.1
Invalid/blank votes1,879,556
Total14,739,766100
Registered voters/turnout49,054,24630.0
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Related Research Articles

October 1946 French constitutional referendum

A constitutional referendum was held in France on 13 October 1946. Voters were asked whether they approved of a new constitution proposed by the Constituent Assembly elected in June. Unlike the May referendum, which saw a previous constitutional proposal rejected, the new constitution was accepted by 53.2% of voters, and brought the French Fourth Republic into existence. Voter turnout was 67.6%.

1958 French constitutional referendum

A constitutional referendum was held in France on 28 September 1958. Voters were asked whether they approved of the adoption of a constitution for the French Fifth Republic written by Charles de Gaulle. It was overwhelmingly approved, with 82.6% in favour. Voter turnout was 84.9% in Metropolitan France and 79.8% overall.

1852 French Second Empire referendum

A referendum on re-establishing the Empire was held in France on 21 and 22 November 1852. Voters were asked whether they approved of the re-establishment of the Empire in the person of Louis Napoléon Bonaparte and family. It was approved by 96.9% of voters with a 79.8% turnout.

A referendum was held in France on 20 and 21 December 1851. Voters were asked whether they approved of the continuation of the authority of Louis Napoléon Bonaparte and to delegate the powers required to produce a new constitution. It was approved by 92% of voters with an 81.7% turnout.

1997 Polish constitutional referendum

A constitutional referendum was held in Poland on 25 May 1997. Voters were asked whether they approved of a new constitution. It was narrowly approved, with 53.5% voting in favour. Voter turnout was just 42.9%. Although the 1995 Referendum Act stated that a 50% turnout was required to validate the referendum, the Supreme Court ruled on 15 July that the constitution could be introduced.

1993 Italian referendum

An eight-part referendum was held in Italy on 18 April 1993. Voters were asked whether they approved of the repealing of laws on limiting intervention of local health units in dealing with environmental pollution, limiting the use of medicinal drugs, political party finances, the use of proportional representation in the Senate of Italy and the regulation of public banks, as well as the abolishment the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, the Ministry of State Holdings, the Ministry of Tourism. All eight proposals were approved with support ranging from 55.3% to 90.3%.

2000 Italian referendum

A seven-part referendum was held in Italy on 21 May 2000. Voters were asked whether they approved of the repealing of laws on topics including election funding, the electoral system, the judiciary, employment and union dues. Although all but one of the seven proposals were approved by voters, the voter turnout of 32% was well below the 50% threshold and the results were invalidated.

2003 Italian referendum double referendum to decide company employment policy

A double referendum was held in Italy on 15 May 2003. Voters were asked whether small companies should be forced to re-employ workers they had sacked illegitimately and whether the property owners could refuse to allow electricity cables to be installed on private property. Although both were approved by wide margins, the voter turnout of 26% was well below the 50% threshold and the results were invalidated.

1999 Moldovan constitutional referendum

A consultative constitutional referendum was held in Moldova on 23 May 1999. It was initiated by President Petru Lucinschi and asked voters whether they approved of changing the system of government to a presidential system. The proposal was approved by 64.2% of voters. However, the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova and the Alliance for Democracy and Reforms opposed Lucinschi, and were able to vote several constitutional changes through parliament on 5 July 2000. The changes reduced the powers of the president and strengthened the parliament and government.

A four-part referendum was held in Switzerland on 11 May 1884. All four were rejected by voters.

Two referendums were held in Switzerland in 1887. The first was held on 15 May, asking voters whether they approved of a federal law on spirits, and was approved by 65.9% of voters. The second was held on 10 July, asking voters whether they approved of an amendment made to article 64 of the federal constitution, and was approved by 77.9% of voters and 20.5 cantons.

A referendum on accident and health insurance was held in Switzerland on 2 October 1890. Voters were asked whether they approved of a federal resolution on amending the constitution with regards to accident and health insurance. It was approved by a majority of voters and cantons.

A referendum on a war tax was held in Switzerland on 6 June 1915. Voters were asked whether they approved of amending the constitution to introduce a one-off war tax. It was approved by a large majority of voters and all cantons, the first time a referendum had been passed in every canton.

A referendum on alcohol was held in Switzerland on 6 April 1930. Voters were asked whether they approved of amending articles 31 and 32 bis and adding article 32 quater, which concerned alcohol. The proposal was approved by a majority of voters and cantons.

A referendum on foodstuffs was held in Switzerland on 10 June 1906. Voters were asked whether they approved of a new federal law concerning foodstuffs and basic commodities. The proposal was approved by 62.6% of voters.

A referendum on the armed forces was held in Switzerland on 3 November 1907. Voters were asked whether they approved of the organisation of the federal armed forces. The proposal was approved by 55.2% of voters.

A referendum on insurance was held in Switzerland on 4 February 1912. Voters were asked whether they approved of a federal law on health and accident insurance. The proposal was approved by 54.4% of voters.

A referendum on unfair competition was held in Switzerland on 29 October 1944. Voters were asked whether they approved of a new federal law on unfair competition. The proposal was approved by 52.9% of voters.

A three-part referendum was held in Switzerland on 4 October 1896. Voters were asked whether they approved of a federal law on guarantees in the cattle trade, a federal law on the accounting system for the railways and a federal law on the disciplinary penal code for the federal army. Whilst the law on the railways was approved, the other two were rejected by voters.

Two referendums were held in Switzerland during 1928. The first was held on 20 May, asking voters whether they approved of amending article 44 of the constitution regarding measures against foreign infiltrators, and was approved by a majority of voters and cantons. The second was held on 2 December, asking voters whether they approved of the "Kursaalspiele" popular initiative on gambling, and was also approved.

References

  1. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1049 ISBN   978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. 1 2 Nohlen & Stöver, p1061