The Cabinet approved yesterday a draft referendum law that would give voters the power to decide major policy issues at the ballot box.
But the proposal, put forth by the Ministry of the Interior, would exclude issues dealing with the independence or unification debate, national security, and foreign and military affairs.
Under the proposed law, a review committee -- headed by the minister of the interior and composed of 10 other government officials -- would decide whether or not to hold a referendum should one be proposed.
The committee would also decide which administrative districts would take part once it is decided to hold a referendum. In the case of a local referendum, the committee would decide whether a second vote should be cast nationwide to finalize a referendum's outcome.
The interior ministry's proposal also requires that at least one televised public debate be held for a local referendum, and two in the case of a nationwide referendum.
For a nationwide referendum, the signatures of six percent of total eligible voters would be required to send a proposed referendum to the review committee.
If a referendum is to be held at the local level, the signatures of 12 percent of total eligible voters in the constituency are required.
A majority vote and a turnout rate of at least 50 percent would be required for policies proposed in a referendum to be affirmed.
Under the interior ministry's proposal, voters seeking to use the ballot box to halt construction of a controversial project -- such as the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant -- would find themselves stymied.
The ministry's proposal stipulates that a referendum on a construction project cannot be held until eight years after the project is completed.
The interior ministry's proposal will be submitted to the legislature for review soon.
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