Latvian citizenship referendum, 1998

Last updated
Coat of Arms of Latvia.svg
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Latvia
Foreign relations

A referendum on the citizenship law was held in Latvia on 3 October 1998. [1] The Saeima had made amendments to the law in June that increased the opportunities for naturalisation and provided the additional option of obtaining Latvian citizenship for non-citizens (nepilsoņi) and stateless persons (bezvalstnieki) born in Latvia from August 1991 onwards. Voters were asked "are you for or against the repeal of the law "Amendments in the Law of Citizenship"". [2] A majority of 53.9% voted against repealing the law. [2]

Latvia republic in Northeastern Europe

Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. Since its independence, Latvia has been referred to as one of the Baltic states. It is bordered by Estonia to the north, Lithuania to the south, Russia to the east, and Belarus to the southeast, and shares a maritime border with Sweden to the west. Latvia has 1,957,200 inhabitants and a territory of 64,589 km2 (24,938 sq mi). The country has a temperate seasonal climate.

Saeima parliament of Latvia

The Saeima is the parliament of the Republic of Latvia. It is a unicameral parliament consisting of 100 members who are elected by proportional representation, with seats allocated to political parties which gain at least 5% of the popular vote. Elections are scheduled to be held once every four years, normally on the first Saturday of October. The most recent elections were held in October 2018.

Non-citizens (Latvia)

Non-citizens in Latvian law are individuals who are not citizens of Latvia or any other country, but who, in accordance with the Latvian law "Regarding the status of citizens of the former USSR who possess neither Latvian nor other citizenship", have the right to a non-citizen passport issued by the Latvian government as well as other specific rights. Approximately two thirds of them are ethnic Russians, followed by Belarusians, Ukrainians, Poles, and Lithuanians.

Results

ChoiceVotes%
For416,58446.1
Against487,55953.9
Invalid/blank votes23,897
Total928,040100
Registered voters/turnout1,341,87369.2
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Related Research Articles

1978 Italian referendums

A double referendum was held in Italy on 11 June 1978. Voters were asked whether they approved of the repealing of laws on political party financing and public order. Both proposals were rejected.

A two-part referendum was held in Hungary on 5 December 2004. Voters were asked two questions:

  1. Do you agree with the notion that public health service institutions and hospitals should remain state or local government property, and, in accordance with that, the Parliament should repeal the contradictory law?
  2. Do you want the Parliament to pass a law that enables ethnic Hungarians with non-Hungarian citizenship and residence, who affirm their Hungarian nationality, either with a Hungarian identity card described in Par. 19 of Act LXII/2001, or in a way specified in the forthcoming law, to apply for and be granted Hungarian citizenship?
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%.

1997 Italian referendum

A seven-part referendum was held in Italy on 15 June 1997. 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. Although all seven proposals were approved by voters, the voter turnout of 30% was well below the 50% threshold and the results were invalidated.

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.

1927 Latvian citizenship referendum

A referendum on the citizenship law was held in Latvia on 17 and 18 December 1927. Voters were asked whether they approved of repealing the amendments made to the citizenship law by the Saeima. The referendum was passed and the amendments were cancelled. Of a total of 1,120,026 registered voters, only 242,798 cast valid votes.

1934 Latvian Insurance Law referendum

A referendum on the Insurance Law was held in Latvia on 24 and 25 February 1934. The referendum was initiated by the Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party and its supporters and asked voters whether they approved of the law "On Provision in cases of old age, disability and unemployment", more commonly known as the Insurance Law. The law would provide social protection for the elderly, disabled and unemployed. Although it was passed by a wide margin, voter turnout was below the necessary threshold and the law was not passed by the Saeima.

1999 Latvian pensions referendum

A referendum on state pensions was held in Latvia on 13 November 1999. A bill amending the state pension law had been passed by the Saeima on 5 August. It proposed equalising the retirement age of 60 for men and 57.5 for women at 62 by 2006, as well as beginning to withhold pensions from pensioners earning more than double the state pension the following year and withholding payments to all pensioners earning an income by 2005.

1931 Latvian parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Latvia on 3 and 4 October 1931. The Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party remained the largest party, winning 21 of the 100 seats. The last elections held under the Constitution of Latvia before the 1934 coup d'état, they were the last competitive elections held under Latvian law until 1993.

1982 Sammarinese citizenship referendum

A referendum on the citizenship law was held in San Marino on 25 July 1982. The proposed abolishment of the law failed, with 57.3% voting against it.

1999 Sammarinese citizenship referendum

A referendum on the citizenship law was held in San Marino on 12 September 1999. Voters were asked whether the new citizenship law passed on 16 June should come into force. Although a majority voted in favour, the quorum of 32% of registered voters (9,663) was not achieved and the referendum failed.

Five referendums were held in Switzerland during 1922. The first three were held on 11 June on the process of obtaining Swiss citizenship, on expelling foreigners and on the eligibility of federal officials to stand in National Council elections. All three were rejected. The fourth was held on 24 September on an amendment of the criminal law regarding constitutional and domestic security, and was also rejected. The fifth was held on 3 December on introducing a one-off property tax, and was rejected by a wide margin.

Five referendums were held in Switzerland in 1970. The first was held on 1 February on a federal resolution on the domestic sugar market, and was approved by voters. The second was held on 7 June on a popular initiative "against foreign infiltration", and was rejected by voters. The third and fourth were held on 27 September on an amendment to the Swiss Federal Constitution regarding promoting gymnastics and sports, which was approved, and a popular initiative on the "right to habitation and expansion of family protection", which was rejected. The fifth was held on 15 November on an amendment to the federal financial order, and was approved by voters.

Nine referendums were held in Switzerland in 1975. The first was held on 2 March on an amendment to the Swiss Federal Constitution on the article on the economic cycle. Although it was approved by a majority of voters, it did not receive the support of a majority of cantons, so was rejected. The next five were held on 8 June on protecting currency (approved), financing the national road network (approved), amending the general tariff (rejected), increasing taxes the following year (approved) and restricting federal expenditure (approved). The final three were held on 7 December on a constitutional amendment on the right to residence and welfare benefits (approved), a constitutional amendment on water management (approved) and a federal law on the import and export of agricultural goods (approved).

Fourteen referendums were held in Switzerland in 1978. The first four were held on 26 February on a popular initiative "for more co-decisions of the Federal Assembly and the People on national road making" (rejected), an amendment to the federal law on aged and bereaved insurance (approved), a popular initiative to lower the retirement age (rejected) and amending the article on the economic cycle in the Swiss Federal Constitution (approved). The next five referendums were held on 28 May on a law on time (rejected), an amendment to the tariff law (approved), a new federal law banning abortion (rejected), a federal law on promoting research and universities (rejected) and a popular initiative "for 12 Sundays a year free from motor vehicles" (rejected).

Fifteen referendums were held in Switzerland during 1992. The first two were held on 16 February on popular initiatives "for a financially bearable health insurance" and "for the drastic and stepwise limitation of animal experiments." Both were rejected by voters. The next seven were held on 17 May on joining and contributing to the Bretton Woods system, a federal law on water protection (approved), a popular initiative "for the recovery of our waters" (rejected), a federal resolution on the popular initiative "against the malpractice of gene technology on humans" (approved), a federal resolution on creating a civilian service alternative to military service (approved) and a change to the Strafgesetzbuch and the Military Penal Code on sexual integrity (approved).

Seven referendums were held in Switzerland during 1995. The first four were held on 12 March on a federal resolution on the popular initiative "for an environmentally sound and efficient peasant farming" (rejected), on a resolution on dairy farming (rejected), an amendment to the farming law (rejected) and a federal resolution on spending (approved).

Thirteen referendums were held in Switzerland during 2004. The first three were held on 8 February on a counter proposal to the popular initiative "for safe and efficient motorways" (rejected), an amendment to the Obligations (tenancy) law (rejected) and a popular initiative "life-long custody for non-curable, extremely dangerous sexual and violent criminals" (approved). The second set of three was held on 16 May on a revision of the federal law on Aged and Bereaved insurance, a federal resolution on financing the Aged and Bereaved insurance, and a federal law that would affect taxation for married couples, families, private housing and stamp duty, all of which were rejected.

Thirteen referendums were held in Switzerland during 1994. The first five were held on 20 February on federal resolutions on roadbuilding, continuing existing truck tolls and varying tolls based on engine power or mileage, as well as a popular initiative "for the protection of the alpine region from through traffic" and an amendment to the aeronautical law. All five were approved by voters. The second set of referendums was held on 12 June on federal resolutions on an article on the Swiss Federal Constitution on the promotion of culture and a review of the procedure for naturalising young immigrants, as well as a federal law on Swiss troops in peacekeeping operations. Whilst the resolutions were both approved by a majority of voters, they did not receive the approval from the majority of cantons, so were rejected, as was the law on troops.

Ten referendums were held in Switzerland during 1998. The first three were held on 7 June on a federal resolution on a balanced budget and two popular initiatives "for the protection of life and environment against genetic engineering " and "Switzerland without secret police". Whilst the balanced budget proposal was approved, both popular initiatives were rejected by voters. The next three referendums were held on 27 September on a federal law on truck tolls based on engine size and two popular initiatives "for well-priced foodstuffs and ecological farms" and "10th revision of the Aged and Bereaved Insurance without raising the retirement age". Whilst the toll law was approved, both initiatives were rejected.

References

  1. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1122 ISBN   978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. 1 2 Nohlen & Stöver, p1136