Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Ruud Koole
- Credit: Source: Flickr/PvdA
Politics
advisory referendum
amendments
citizens
constitution
corrective referendum
d66
Groenlinks
issues
Minister Ronald Plasterk
MPs
parliament
proposals
PvdA
referendum
Ruud Koole
voting
Wednesday, 9 April 2014 - 08:10
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

MPs amend plans for referendum

MPs want to amend current referendum formats, launching the idea of a so-called advisory referendum, which is not binding. This referendum can be introduced until a corrective referendum, which is binding, has been voted on. This advisory referendum can also get a participation quorum. The ideas for these referenda came from the PvdA, D66 and GroenLinks on Tuesday night, proposing them to senator Ruud Koole, amongst others, of the PvdA. At the end of the week, they will come with a memo of how to go about these amendments. According to het Parool, Koole was "very happy." Koole, whose PvdA vote carries a lot of weight, did have some issues with the plan at first. He feared a situation in which citizens opt for an advisory referendum in future to avoid the responsibility of a binding referendum, in the hope that the cabinet won't dare to ignore the results anyway. He therefore did not want both referenda to exist alongside each other. Some other parties had questions as well. It would be difficult to pass these plans into the law immediately. An advisory referendum is rather easily realized, but a corrective referendum demands amendments of the Constitution, and that is always a hefty undertaking. A 'preliminary reading' must first pass through parliament, then come the elections, and then the amendments have to be accepted by two-thirds of parliament members. The 'temporary' of an advisory referendum would have to be flexible. The government is remaining neutral in this case. Minister Ronald Plasterk does not think these referenda will be an axe to the roots of democracy, but he also doesn't believe them to pose as a miracle cure in all political issues. Voting on these proposals will be next week Tuesday.

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Dutchman took 9-year-old son to illegal rave in Belgium; Caught with 100 g amphetamine
  • Gangs of foreign thieves targeting festivals in Netherlands: report
  • Auto manufacturing plant VDL NedCar to layoff 1,850 workers
  • Amsterdam’s famous g-string roller skater dead at age 66
  • Home seekers face massive competition as private rentals disappear in big cities
  • Rent discount planned for young adults who move into seniors' complexes, help with chores

Top stories

  • Job growth expected to stall in the Netherlands next year
  • Quarter of young adults in Netherlands overweight
  • Netherlands inflation climbed to 6.1 percent in May
  • Dutch parliament leader demands Twitter take action against threats targeting politicians
  • Senate approves new pension system; Important step, Minister says
  • Schiphol to start cutting flights this winter; dropping 17,000 flight movements

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content