1963 Danish land laws referendum
A referendum on land laws was held in
Background
On May 31, 1963,
On the same day, 71 of 179 members of parliament (i.e. every member of the Liberals and the Conservative People's Party) handed in a signed decree that a public referendum must be held about four of these laws. In doing so, they invoked chapter 42, section 1 in the
The disputed land laws
Obligatory residence
The first of the four laws sent to public referendum concerned the obligatory residence of agricultural estates in rural areas. According to the law, anyone acquiring an agricultural estate was required to take residence at the estate within six months of the acquisition.[3] Acquisition of more than one such estate was to require permission from the Minister for Agriculture.
State's first option to buy
This law stated that, when a land owner sold a property in a rural area of 1 hectare (10,000 m2) or more, the state would have the first option to buy said property. The purpose of the law was to give the state the opportunity to acquire land for use in agriculture, gardening, recreational areas, or public purposes.[3]
Town's first option to buy
Unlike the first two laws, this law centered on properties outside of rural areas, i.e. in towns and the outskirts of towns. The contents and intent of the law were much like those of the laws regarding the state's first option to buy, except that the purchaser would be the municipalities and that the law affected properties of 6,000 m2 or more.[3]
Preservation of natural amenities
The fourth law was to make it possible to list areas for protection on basis of their natural beauty, their location, or their peculiarity.[3]
Results
Obligatory residence
Choice | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
For | 843,756 | 38.4 |
Against | 1,354,588 | 61.6 |
Invalid/blank votes | 23,920 | – |
Total | 2,222,264 | 100 |
Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
State's first option to buy
Choice | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
For | 848,494 | 38.6 |
Against | 1,347,942 | 61.4 |
Invalid/blank votes | 25,687 | – |
Total | 2,222,123 | 100 |
Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
Town's first option to buy
Choice | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
For | 872,042 | 39.6 |
Against | 1,328,036 | 60.4 |
Invalid/blank votes | 22,160 | – |
Total | 2,222,238 | 100 |
Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
Preservation of natural amenities
Choice | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
For | 937,259 | 42.6 |
Against | 1,261,545 | 57.4 |
Invalid/blank votes | 23,391 | – |
Total | 2,222,195 | 100 |
Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
Aftermath
As a result of the four laws being rejected, the remaining six laws were withdrawn as well.[3]
Notes
- ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
- ^ a b c http://www.folketinget.dk/pdf/folkeafstemninger.pdf Archived 2007-06-11 at the Wayback Machine (in Danish)
- ^ a b c d e f http://www.retsforbundet.dk/artikler/2001/sorthaand.htm Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine (in Danish)
- ^ http://www.folketinget.dk/pdf/constitution.pdf Archived February 27, 2008, at the Wayback Machine