While citizens' initiative is one of the most powerful instruments of direct democracy, it is not the most common tool out there. So what we want to discuss with you is one of the most popular direct democracy tools globally, a rejective referendum! We are excited to invite you on 26 September to our upcoming webinar “Navigating rejective referendum: cases of the Netherlands, Italy, and Ecuador.” 

Each of the selected countries presents a varied set of circumstances when it comes to the use of rejective referendums. While in Italy the tool is robustly used despite limitations and Ecuador practices rejective referendum less actively, in the Netherlands the instrument was sporadically used, abolished in 2018 and faced debates about its revival in 2024. If you want to learn more about rejective referendum before the webinar, take a look at the Global State of Direct Democracy Report.

Together, let’s hear from the experts from these three countries about the peculiarities of each case, current practices, open questions and challenges. Join us!

When? 10 October at 17:30 CEST, online. Register here

Language? English

Programme?
explore the benefits and challenges of the rejective referendum tool
delve into the practicalities of rejective referenda in the Netherlands, Italy, and Ecuador
ask questions to the speakers and engage in a discussion

Speakers:
Claudio Martinelli, Professor, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
Thijs Vos, PhD candidate, Leiden University, the Netherlands
Carlos Larrea Maldonado, Professor, Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar, Ecuador

Register here