Do referenda have the vote of the people?

VOTERS face between three and six referenda in the first half of 2015. They will be asked to decide on lowering the voting age to 16, lowering the age threshold for candidates for the presidency from 35, and to decide on marriage equality.

All three of these proposals are recommendations from the Constitutional Convention. There were fears, when the convention was announced, that the Government might not act on its recommendations. However, this is not the case and the Government is proceeding.

There are a number of other proposals from the convention that are awaiting a final decision, and more referenda could yet be announced: On blasphemy, voting rights for emigrants, and the position of women in the home.