Breakthrough in South Tyrol
- A new law is introduced after 10 years of hard work of the initiative "Mehr Demokratie in Südtirol".
Finally, the struggle for direct democracy in the northern region of Italy has been successful.
A law will regulate the right for initiative and referendum.
A large majority approved it in the regional assembly: 29 of the 35 member of the regional assembly voted in favour. Only 6 Green deputies voted against the proposal. They argued that the regulations are too complicated.
The law contains the right to start a popular initiative. 8.000 signatures are necessary to present a law proposal to the Parliament. This can adopt or reject it.
13.000 signatures are needed for a popular submission. The Parliament has to adopt the law within 180 days; otherwise it is mandatory to hold a referendum.
The time for gathering is limited: four months. The signatures have to be certified.
According to the Italian tradition of direct democracy the new law contains also the tools of a consultative and an abrogative referendum.
The proposal of the initiative has to be written in two languages: German and Italian. Around 70% of the ~480.000 inhabitants (Mai 2005) are speaking German.
The turnout quorum in the referendum is 40%. The result is binding.
Citizens are not allowed to address several important issues with a submission (e.g. budget and taxes).
The strict regulation of the signature gathering and the quorum are too high to call it a fair procedure. Nevertheless, the introduction of the initiative right is seen as a “quantum leap” as Stephan Lausch, spokesperson of Mehr Demokratie in Süd-Tirol (More Democracy in South Tyrol) commented proudly. The initiative is already looking on the next aim: organise a popular submission to simplify the procedure.
