Luxemburgers have rejected, by referendums, key changes to their voting rules. The Grand Duchy said no to allowing foreign residents to vote in their
ADVERTISEMENTLuxemburgers have rejected, by referendums, key changes to their voting rules.
The Grand Duchy said no to allowing foreign residents to vote in their national elections, a move that would have been a first in Europe and could have increased the numbers of voters by as much as 50 percent.
In Sunday’s consultative referendum, only about 22 percent supported the proposal,
There was also clear opposition to lowing the voting age from 16 to 18 and introducing 10 year term limits for ministers.
Almost half of Luxembourg’s 550,000 residents are foreign and some 150,000 commute daily from neighbouring France, Germany and Belgium.
The Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, had called for a yes to all three questions as part of his modernisation agenda.
The 42-year-old premier said he accepted the three firm ‘No’ responses and would withdraw the government’s proposals.