Referendum about nuclear and privatisation water services

By Michele Lilla, "Italoeuropeo" Wednesday, 11 May 2011

On 12th June and 13th June, 2011, a referendum will be held in Italy on four questions for three topics, concerning privatisation of water services, nuclear energy and “legittimo impedimento” legal impediment.

It is a referendum to abrogate a Parliament law, so you vote “yes” to abrogate the law, or vote “no” if you consider the law is right. The referendum requires a quorum of over 50% of all eligible voters to cast their vote in order to be valid.

-The first two questions concern the “Privatisation of water services”.

The first one looks on the arrangements for custody and management of local pubblic water services of economic importance; writing “yes” you agree with abrogating the management of services in the hands of private capital company starting from 2012. The second one concerns “the price determination of the water service on the basis of the investement capital”. The referendum committee wants to avoid a possibillity for the private company to make a profit on the water services.

-The second topic concerns to abrogate the new plan of laws about a new government nuclear platform. Italy chose to phase out nuclear power in a 1987 referendum, and has not implement a nuclear power plan since 1990. However in recent years the country has been moving back towards nuclear power production. A change in government policy in 2008 marked the beginning of plans for a program of nuclear construction to reduce the country's dependence on oil, gas and imported power.

-The third topic, fourth question, concerns “legittimo impedimento”. In the Italian penal code law, the legal impediment is the institution that allows the accused, in some cases, to justify his absence in the trial. The law allows the Prime Minister and the Ministers to not stand trial if they have an istitutional involvement. In January the Constitutional Court did not consider the whole law relating to a costitution. If the “yes” wins the law will lapse.

In democratic societies, particurarly in Italy, the Referendum is the last action of direct democracy, especially when the election law does not allow the citizen to choose the candidate but only the party. It is really important to go to vote, no matters the preference (...)