VOTE SHORTAGE KILLS REFERENDUM.
Published:
21 November 1999 y., Sunday
Nearly 320,000 people cast votes on Nov. 13 against controversial changes to Latvia_s pension law in a referendum that does not count. Parliamentary opposition parties garnered support for the referendum in response to changes offered by the ruling coalition last August that would have bumped up the retirement age and frozen payments to working pensioners among other reforms aimed at trimming a growing budget deficit. Voters were asked whether the amendments should be vetoed. Most said "yes," but not enough. To be enforced, at least half the voters from the last parliamentary election had to show up at the polls Saturday - 482,334 voters - but only 339,614 turned out, or about 25 percent of registered voters. Preliminary totals show 319,881 voting in favor of tossing the stricter amendments while 18,289 voted to keep them. In poorer areas like the Latgale region in eastern Latvia, where many rely on pensions as their only form of income, a higher percentage of voters turned out than were needed. Polls in Daugavpils, the largest city in Latgale, drew 50 percent more than needed to fulfill the quorum. Latgale as a whole attracted 18 percent more voters than needed but was overshadowed by a low turnout elsewhere, including the capital city of Riga. In wealthier communities, like the port city of Ventspils, voter turnout was barely a quarter of the votes needed to make the referendum stick. The ruling coalition, which called the referendum a pointless political ploy, offered softer compromise amendments Nov. 4 that will take effect later this month. Despite those amendments, which easily passed Parliament more than a week before the Nov. 13 vote, opposition parties, led by the Social Democrats, continued to publicize the referendum with posters and direct mail fliers.
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
The Champs Elysees rings in the holiday season with a festive lighting display.
more »
Westminster Abbey is confirmed as the venue for the wedding of Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29, 2011.
more »
15,000 pilgrams flock to see official unveiling of the world's tallest statue of Jesus in Poland.
more »
Muslims in Bangladesh go to market to buy livestock to slaughter for the approaching holy Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha.
more »
Ten–year strategy for people with disabilities so they can take part in all aspects of daily life across the EU.
more »
Ahead of the Africa-EU Summit taking place from 29-30 November in Libya, the Commission presents today its proposals for a consolidation of the Africa-EU relations.
more »
Average CO2 emissions from new cars sold in the EU dropped by 5% last year, the biggest annual fall ever recorded, a report published today by the European Commission shows.
more »
Baby koala fights for her life in Australia after being injured by shotgun fire.
more »
Plans to give consumers more control over how personal information is collected and used.
more »
A severe drought pushes river levels in Brazil's Amazon region to record lows, isolating communities and strangling vital boat transport links.
more »