The State Electoral Commission confirmed that the Saturday's (January 21) referendum on the change to the Constitution failed, on account of the low voter turnout of 27.25 percent. 97.51 percent of the participants answered in the affirmative to the question of whether citizens agree with the possibility of shortening the election period through a referendum or a resolution of the National Council of the Slovak Republic. The participation of more than 50 percent of voters was needed.
The referendum results serve as evidence that the public doesn't wish to see the current elected term shortened and Parliament dissolved, commented the results the largest Governing OĽaNO party. On the other hand, the largest opposition SMER-SD perceive the referendum result as phenomenal. "A total of 1.2 million voters showed up to polling stations yesterday with a clear vision. They know they want an early election, they want change," said party’s head Robert Fico.
Political scientist Tomáš Koziak said hat there are rational reasons that justify the lower participation. "The strongest argument is that the content of the referendum was about what the political parties decided about a week before the referendum was held. This means that there will be early elections. It's as if one loses the reason to go to the referendum," says Koziak.
Source: TASR
