Next referendum not before 2017

(CS/ml) With the June 7 referendum just one step in the reform of Luxembourg's constitution, voters are expected to give their verdict on the document as a whole in 2017 or the following year.

The consultative referendum on lowering the voting age, opening up voting rights to non-nationals and limiting ministerial mandates, represented a search for the opinion of Luxembourg voters in the reform process. With a triple 'no' outcome, the government and political parties have pledged that the topics are off the table.

However, the reform of the constitution continues. A parliamentary committee on Wednesday outlined plans on the next steps.

It is hoped that the project will be completed within the current legislative period. The earliest date for a referendum, in which Luxembourg nationals will vote on the full document, has been set for June or July 2017. Depending on the speed of progress, the referendum may not be held until the start of 2018.

The State Council is yet to deliver a verdict on around 70 changes made to the constitution thus far. For parliament, the reform is a mammoth project as not only the constitution itself needs to be passed but also a number of implementation acts.

Before parliament votes on the constitution, which needs a two-thirds majority to pass, it is planned to involve a group of citizens to determine key questions and issues. How this forum will be conducted has not yet been elaborated. The University of Luxembourg has already been suggested as a potential partner though.

The reformed text so far will need one little alteration following the June 7 referendum. Article 10, which states that political rights for Luxembourgers can be extended by law to apply to non-nationals, is to be clarified to say that this does not apply to the right to vote in legislative elections.