A constitutional referendum was held in Liechtenstein on 1 July 2012[1] concerning limiting the extensive veto powers held by the Prince of Liechtenstein. The proposals were rejected by 76% of voters.[1]
2012 Liechtenstein constitutional referendum
1 July 2012
Referendum on modifying articles 9, 65, 66 and 112 of the constitution.
Prior to the 2011 referendum on abortion, Regent Alois had threatened to veto the change to the law to allow voluntary abortion in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy even if the referendum passed.[1][2]
The question was agreed on 9 February, and 1,732 signatures were collected between 29 March and 9 May.[1] Of these, 1,726 were declared valid, exceeding the 1,500 required to force a referendum.[1] The Landtag rejected the law on 23 May by a vote of 18 to 7 and subsequently set the date of the referendum.[1]
Proposed changesedit
The proposed changes would have modified articles 9, 65, 66 and 112 of the constitution.[1] Article 9 stated "Every law requires for its validity the sanction of the Prince", and would have been amended to add "or approval in a referendum." Article 65 would have had the sentence "If the sanction of the Prince is not received within six months, it shall be deemed to be denied" removed.[1]
Campaignedit
As a result, an initiative called "Damit deine Stimme zählt" ("So that your voice counts") was launched to change the constitution to prevent the Prince from vetoing legislation approved in referendums.[1] To counter the campaign, opponents of the change set up a group called "Für Gott, Fürst und Vaterland" ("For God, prince and fatherland"; which is the motto of Liechtenstein as well as its National Police).[3]
The Princely family threatened to veto the referendum if it resulted in a vote in favour of removing the veto,[4] whilst Alois threatened to resign if it passed.[5]
Resultsedit
Liechtenstein constitutional referendum, 2012
Choice
Votes
%
No
11,681
76.43
Yes
3,602
23.57
Valid votes
15,283
96.69
Invalid or blank votes
524
3.31
Total votes
15,807
100.00
Registered voters/turnout
19,076
82.89
Source: Direct Democracy
Referencesedit
^ abcdefghiLiechtenstein, 1 July 2012: Decreased veto of the Prince Direct Democracy (in German)
^Liechtenstein, 18 September 2011: deadline solution to abortion Direct Democracy (in German)
^Copley, Caroline (July 1, 2012). "Liechtenstein: 'For God, the prince and the country'". Glode and Mail. Vaduz. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
^Liechtenstein royals rejects plan to remove veto CBS News, 11 February 2012 Archived 18 January 2013 at archive.today
2012, liechtenstein, constitutional, referendum, constitutional, referendum, held, liechtenstein, july, 2012, concerning, limiting, extensive, veto, powers, held, prince, liechtenstein, proposals, were, rejected, voters, july, 2012referendum, modifying, articl. A constitutional referendum was held in Liechtenstein on 1 July 2012 1 concerning limiting the extensive veto powers held by the Prince of Liechtenstein The proposals were rejected by 76 of voters 1 2012 Liechtenstein constitutional referendum1 July 2012Referendum on modifying articles 9 65 66 and 112 of the constitution ResultsChoice Votes Yes 3 602 23 57 No 11 681 76 43 Valid votes 15 283 96 69 Invalid or blank votes 524 3 31 Total votes 15 807 100 00 Registered voters turnout 19 076 82 86 Results by municipality Contents 1 Background 2 Proposed changes 3 Campaign 4 Results 5 ReferencesBackground editPrior to the 2011 referendum on abortion Regent Alois had threatened to veto the change to the law to allow voluntary abortion in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy even if the referendum passed 1 2 The question was agreed on 9 February and 1 732 signatures were collected between 29 March and 9 May 1 Of these 1 726 were declared valid exceeding the 1 500 required to force a referendum 1 The Landtag rejected the law on 23 May by a vote of 18 to 7 and subsequently set the date of the referendum 1 Proposed changes editThe proposed changes would have modified articles 9 65 66 and 112 of the constitution 1 Article 9 stated Every law requires for its validity the sanction of the Prince and would have been amended to add or approval in a referendum Article 65 would have had the sentence If the sanction of the Prince is not received within six months it shall be deemed to be denied removed 1 Campaign editAs a result an initiative called Damit deine Stimme zahlt So that your voice counts was launched to change the constitution to prevent the Prince from vetoing legislation approved in referendums 1 To counter the campaign opponents of the change set up a group called Fur Gott Furst und Vaterland For God prince and fatherland which is the motto of Liechtenstein as well as its National Police 3 The Princely family threatened to veto the referendum if it resulted in a vote in favour of removing the veto 4 whilst Alois threatened to resign if it passed 5 Results editLiechtenstein constitutional referendum 2012 Choice Votes nbsp No 11 681 76 43Yes 3 602 23 57Valid votes 15 283 96 69Invalid or blank votes 524 3 31Total votes 15 807 100 00Registered voters turnout 19 076 82 89Source Direct DemocracyReferences edit a b c d e f g h i Liechtenstein 1 July 2012 Decreased veto of the Prince Direct Democracy in German Liechtenstein 18 September 2011 deadline solution to abortion Direct Democracy in German Copley Caroline July 1 2012 Liechtenstein For God the prince and the country Glode and Mail Vaduz Retrieved July 3 2012 Liechtenstein royals rejects plan to remove veto CBS News 11 February 2012 Archived 18 January 2013 at archive today Liechtenstein votes to keep royal veto The Local 2 July 2012 Archived from the original on 2013 02 01 Now located at https www thelocal ch 20120702 3652 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2012 Liechtenstein constitutional referendum amp oldid 1173760148, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
