Three types of referenda that can be held in Kosovo
(8 years ago)Kosovo can become very soon with the Law on Referendum. The Kosovo Assembly has adopted in principle the bill, which envisions three types of referenda; that abolishing, consultative and constitutional one. The abolition referendum allows for abolishing a law or part of it. And that consultative one can be initiated by the president or the Parliament and through it [...]
The abolition referendum allows for abolishing a law or part of it. That consultative one, on the other hand, may be initiated by the president or the Parliament, and the citizens ' opinion on any particular matter is required through it.
Meanwhile, the constitutional referendum is one through which the Assembly could organise referenda on constitutional changes, including two-thirds of their reserved minorities and countries.
Kosovo Assembly MPs say this bill or organising a referendum could be implemented in specific cases that are in the country's interest.
MP Elmi Recica, from the Democratic Party of Kosovo, says about REL has been determined when the Law on Referendum can be applied in practice.
The “is precisely how, in what situation and at what moment a referendum can be organised, this is specific of the law. If there is no Constitutional Court ruling that is contrary to the Constitution, then the referendum is valid and is mandatory to implement”, Recica said.
He does not expect the Law for the referendum in any case to conflict with the Kosovo Constitution.
The proposors have taken into account that the law would not have to conflict with the Constitution, because the moment it might contradict the Constitution then there is a procedure that should be reversed and could not be decreed as such. I believe that the Constitutional Court should assess it after examining and reading whether there is any particular element or article that might be contrary to the Constitution”, Recica said.
The draft says that “if managed to collect 100,000 signatures from the voters' list, could initiate referendum on a specific issue.
” The Parliament, or president of the Republic of Kosovo (with the approval of the Assembly), could propose a consultative referendum on a matter of importance for Kosovo citizens and in accordance with this law. The results should be non-binding”, the results are said in the draft.
Also, Article five notes that procedures for starting the referendum are announced only by the Parliament of the Republic of Kosovo. This bill aims to define rules and procedures for reference that are not included in Law No. 03/L-040 for Local Self-Government of the Republic of Kosovo.