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[Antsan]

Less frustration, probably.
It's a huge problem, you know?

[Sinistar]

So basically... Loud Whispers is the protagonist of some Lovecraftian story?

[Antioch]

Well the Netherlands are having a referendum about the association treaty with Ukraine today.


Why some people choose the push for a referendum on exactly THIS issue is beyond me however.

[martinuzz]

It's just dumb. Some random media-horny guys from an online platform called GeenPeil thought it a good idea to force our government to waste millions of euros on a national referendum on the trade agreement with Ukraine. They got the required number of signatures to make it happen using social media, and now we have a referendum. The 'against' lobby is trying to make believe that the trade agreement is a step towards EU membership for the Ukraine, which is just not true.
They're just trying to make it look like voting no here is like voting against the EU, and they are handily playing that sentiment.

Sadly, most people who are going to vote haven't even read the trade agreement (which is understandable, since it's hard to read, dull legal stuff mostly about import and export taxes and calibrating tax and banking rules in an effort to make it easier to combat corruption).

I'm not a big fan of referenda, especially when they are about rather insignificant subjects that have no direct impact on your average voter, like the trade agreement with Ukraine. Which by the way, is very similar to trade agreements we already have with Morocco, Japan, Pakistan, and a couple dozen more countries, but about those you won't hear anyone screaming that those deals will lead to EU membership.

Putin for one will be sniggering when a Dutch majority votes no. The trade agreement we are voting about now is the same one that started the whole Maidan protest and the subsequent annexation of the Crimea. The former president of Ukraine decided not to sign the trade agreement, after which the Ukrainian people took to the streets and the president fled to Moscow.

[Antioch]

Well I voted in favour of the treaty.

[ChairmanPoo]

But did you vote in favor of the flavor?

[Antioch]

But did you vote in favor of the flavor?

I go for B: chocolate

final answer.

[martinuzz]

In other news, the Spanish parliament has gone to the High Court, to file a lawsuit against the Spanish government.
The government led by Mariano Rajoy has refused parliamentary control and questioning ever since they have become demissionairized. This wednesday, the minister of internal affairs refused to appear in front of parliament to answer questions about some corruption cases, and about rising violence between gangs in Madrid. This was the third time a minister did not appear when summoned.

The government argues that they have no responsibility to answer to parliament, since the current parliament is not the one that put his government in office.

[ChairmanPoo]

The constitutional court actually. It's a different organ from the high court

[Antioch]

The government argues that they have no responsibility to answer to parliament, since the current parliament is not the one that put his government in office.

That makes no sense whatsoever.

[ChairmanPoo]

The argument is that they're a stand-in goverment and are not actually making important decisions (blatant lies. They actually messed into significative stuff)

[Sheb]

Hehe. Reminds me of that time where we "didn't have a government" and still did stuff like bombing Libya.

[Ukrainian Ranger]

Well the Netherlands are having a referendum about the association treaty with Ukraine today.

Why some people choose the push for a referendum on exactly THIS issue is beyond me however.

I call it free PR for Russian money.

[martinuzz]

I have to apologize to the Ukrainian people of the Maidan revolution. With 32% of the voters showing up to vote, the Dutch referendum has become valid (with less then 30% showing up it would have been invalid).
61% of those who voted, voted against the trade agreement. Our prime minister has already said that he cannot deny this "convincing victory", and he will not be able to ratify the treaty in Brussels. So he'll have to go tell the EU to restart negotiations with the Ukraine.
Note that the referendum is a 'councelling referendum' and not a 'binding referendum'. This means that in theory, the government is allowed to completely disregard the outcome. However, our government coalition partners are likely way too scared of losing even more electorate to populist Geert Wilders, and it is not likely it will be disregarded.

I think they should however, seeing that 61% of 32% that actually went and voted means that really only 18% of our population of voting age voted against. Most stayed at home, either out of indifference, but many people stayed at home out of disgruntlement with the waste of millions of tax euros on a vague referendum, hoping the percentage of people going to vote would remain below 30%.

I do apologize for this 18% of my countries population that actually went and voted, and voted no. They screwed you over, and gave Putin a pat on the shoulder.

[Sergarr]

Democracy sure feels not great when it gives out results that you don't want, eh?