The Netherlands: Referendum, 6 April 2016

At stake in this election:

• This referendum will measure the support of the Dutch adoption of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: King WILLEM-ALEXANDER (since 30 April 2013)
• Head of government: Prime Minister Mark RUTTE (since 14 October 2010)
• Assembly: The Netherlands has a bicameral Staten-Generaal (States General) consisting of the Eerste Kamer (First Chamber) with 75 seats and the Tweede Kamer (Second Chamber) with 150 seats.

Electoral requirements:

• For the referendum to be recognized, the voter turnout must be at least 30%, and a simple majority (over 50%) will define the result.

About the referendum:

• The referendum will ascertain the popular perception of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. This referendum is consultative, and therefore non-binding, but it is expected that a negative outcome would at least merit consideration of the Dutch government to readjust its position.

Main provisions in the referendum:

• “Do you support or oppose the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement?”
• “Bent u voor of tegen de wet tot goedkeuring van de Associatieovereenkomst tussen de Europese Unie en Oekraïne?”

Population and number of registered voters:

·         Population: 16,985,571 (January 2016)

·         Registered Voters: 12,689,810 (2012)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 8,527,886

·         Is Netherlands a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)

·         Has Netherlands ratified CEDAW: Yes (23 July 1991)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: N/A

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 83 (36.89%)[1]

·         Human Development Index Position: 5 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

·         Is Netherlands a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Netherlands ratified CRPD: No

·         Population with a disability: 2,542,186