Home > 5 Referendum/Consultation > Referendums in Europe - An Analysis of the Legal Rules in European States
 
 
 
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In addition, a number of replies stated that new legislation had just been passed. This applied to Lithuania (2003), Poland (2004), and the Czech Republic (2004 - solely for local referendums). In Portugal, the Constitution was revised in 2005 in order to enable referendums to be held on the approval of a treaty aimed at the construction or the deepening of the European Union which addresses directly the content of the convention. In Poland, the quorum of 50% of turnout required for a referendum to be decisive remains a controversial matter. In Russia, the law of 28 June 2004 introduced the following changes, inter alia: extension of the right to initiate referendums, more complex rules on popular initiatives, stricter regulation of campaigning. In Switzerland, following the recent constitutional amendment introducing general popular initiatives (adopted in 2003 but not yet in force), a more global reform is still being discussed, although it should not be implemented in the near future.