Old turquoise blue idea – Sachslehner: “Mandatory referendums”

Date:

Planned under turquoise-blue, struck again under turquoise-green: there is talk of a mandatory referendum of a certain number of supporters of a referendum. Now Viennese councilor Laura Sachslehner (ÖVP) is taking up this explosive subject again.

There have already been some discussions and plans for the introduction of a mandatory referendum. In 2011, the FPÖ sounded the drum for direct democracy. The then Blue Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache during the debates on the euro rescue package called for “Swiss-style direct democracy” and binding referendums – if a referendum reaches 150,000 signatures. Another time he revises it to 250,000. In 2012, then Chancellor Werner Faymann (SPÖ) pleaded for 700,000 signatures.

Turquoise Blue once wanted 900,000 signatures as a hurdle
After that, the subject leveled off. With the turquoise-blue coalition in 2017, the way finally seemed clear for a mandatory referendum. ÖVP and FPÖ agreed on the hurdle of 900,000 statements of support from 2022. It’s just stupid that the coalition fell apart again in 2019 (the background is well known). Under the turquoise-green government, which has been in power since January 2020, this topic is completely on hold.

Sachslehner for more “direct democracy”
Now Viennese councilor Laura Sachslehner (ÖVP) is bringing this topic back to the table. She advocates the introduction of compulsory referenda, provided that more than 10 percent of the population (that would now be just under 900,000) sign the referendum. “The declining trust of the people of our country in parts of our political system should be a mandate for us to act to finally enable more direct democracy in our country,” Sachslehner wrote on Twitter.

Warning for left-wing majorities
At the same time, she warns for a left-wing majority in the next National Council elections. “Left parties are now openly dreaming of introducing measures such as 100 km/h or easier granting of citizenship, clearly against the will of the population. We obviously need more direct-democratic means to counter this and to make the will of the majority of the people even more visible.”

Already 16 referenda this year
With the two registration weeks in April and June, 16 referenda have already been signed this year. And it looks like the stream of initiatives will continue: there are currently more than 90 referenda in the support phase.

Only two referenda in Austria
So while there were and are many referenda, there have only been two referenda in Austria (Zwentendorf and joining the EU). In 2013 there was a referendum (Bundesheer). The system’s flaw is that a referendum cannot be initiated by the people, said Werner Bolek (see video below), co-initiator of the initiative to decide together (IGE). Referenda must be dealt with in the National Council, but referendums are legally binding. This means that a law can only come into effect if the people have given their consent.

IGE co-initiator Werner Bolek in the video: “The government is afraid of the people”

Reference to Swiss model
Like Sachslehner, Bolek also demands that referenda should lead to a referendum if a certain number of signatures is reached. Direct democracy thrives strongly on the instrument of referenda. “It is actually the most important and only national instrument of direct democracy. The Swiss example shows that a well-developed democracy tolerates popular participation very well.”

Source: Krone

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Share post:

Subscribe

Popular

More like this
Related

Earthquakes will continue – Emergency in the Santorin holiday paradise

The Greek Ministry of Civil Protection has announced the...

Mayor Cheers – Project -Saus: But no “mini Dubai” in Budapest

The mayor of the opposition in the capital of...

“Esteban will be a wonderful president”

The parliamentarian has left the possibility that, despite his...