Belgrade: The extraordinary majority in the Slovenian referendum rejects the legislative change proposed by the government which is said by ecologists open the road to construction projects by the sea, lakes and rivers that will threaten the environment.
National vote that binds legally in Alpine 2 million countries is forced by environmental lovers after parliament approves the Amendment of Slovenian Water Law in March.
About 86.6% of voters voted on amendments passed by the government, the State Election Commission published on their website based on 99.9% of the votes were calculated.
The election is 46%.
Andraž Zork, an analyst, told the SLOVENIA agent that the rejection of the legal change on water resources “was a problem of popular distrust in the government.” Prime Minister Janeg Janez Janez said this amendment was intended to secure more funds to protect the lake and river, strengthen the flood defense and tighten construction regulations.
Civil society groups form “drinking water movements”, and collect more than 50,000 signatures to make a mandatory referendum, said legal changes will actually loosen the rules about construction in coastal areas and the edge of the lake.
They are afraid of restaurants, tourist accommodation, shops and parking lots will be built which limits public access to lakes, rivers and sea, increases the risk of water pollution and threatens the quality of drinking water.
In 2016, Slovenia changed its constitution to make access to fundamental water for all citizens and stopped commercialization.