''Major Continental Crisis'' as a Result of Dutch Referendum?

• 01.12.2016, 16:09
•  Europe,  World

Planning to hold an advisory referendum on the EU-Ukrainian deal on April 6, the Dutch are throwing a wrench into Brussels' plans, leading European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to warn that a ''no'' vote on association might cause a major continental crisis.

According to the Dutch News, Juncker called on voters to act as European strategists and realise that the issue goes beyond domestic Dutch concerns. He told that a clear victory for the "no" campaign will be a boost for Russia.

''I hope very much that the Dutch will not say ''no'' for reasons which have nothing to do with the treaty,'' Juncker said ''I am not criticizing the Dutch political system but I would say ''take care, this can change the balance of Europe.''

It should be reminded that this referendum was the initiative of Dutch Euroskeptics, who managed to collect over 400,000 signatures last September, taking advantage of a new democratic tool which allows citizens to call for a referendum on recently-adopted laws or treaties.

The matter is that in 2014, the Dutch approved legislation to allow ''advisory referendums'' on controversial topics, if supporters can gather 300,000 signatures.

As the Sputnik News reports, the referendum is advisory and not binding for the cabinet. This means that if the turnout is over 30% and the majority votes against the treaty, the government has to re-examine the legislation. Even though ministers can still ignore the vote, it will be difficult politically to ignore the wishes of so many people. Besides, experts suggest, doing so would mean a serious blow to the government's approval ratings.

This law will give citizens a serious opportunity to express their views and an important voice in the decision-making process.