2023 Slovak constitutional referendum
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox referendum
| name = 2023 Slovak constitutional referendum
| country = Slovakia
| question = Do you agree that the early termination of the election period of the National Council of the Slovak Republic can be carried out by a referendum or a resolution of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, namely by changing the Constitution of the Slovak Republic?
| date = {{start date|2023|01|21|df=y}}
| yes =1,163,586
| no =18,398
| invalid =10,265
| electorate =4,377,565
| outcome = Proposal failed as voter turnout was below 50%
| map = 2023 Slovak constitutional referendum results map by district.svg
| map_caption = Results of the "yes" vote as a percentage of registered voters by district
}}
A constitutional referendum was held in Slovakia on 21 January 2023. Following the 2020 parliamentary election, in which the Direction – Slovak Social Democracy (SMER) was defeated by the Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OĽaNO), opposition parties initiated a referendum to call a snap election.
The proposed referendum was rejected by the Constitutional Court of Slovakia in 2021, although the organisers submitted another proposal in August 2022. The organisers wanted to propose two questions, one that would ask for the modification of the National Council to call a snap election and one that would ask for the resignation of Eduard Heger's government; the Court ruled that the latter question is unconstitutional, but approved the first one. Subsequently, Zuzana Čaputová, the president of Slovakia, announced the date of the referendum, while Heger voiced his opposition to such referendum.
Although a very large majority of those that voted supported the proposal, it nevertheless was not adopted as less than 50% of all eligible voters in the country exercised their right to vote in the referendum, a requirement under current Slovak law.
Background
File:EPP Political Assembly, 17-18 November, Lisbon (52507769869) (cropped).jpg
The constitutional referendum comes in context of repeated attempts by the Direction – Slovak Social Democracy (SMER) to call for early elections.{{Cite web |last=Svobodová |first=Klára |date=12 September 2022 |title=Čaputová vypíše referendum, Slovensko bude rozhodovat o změně ústavních podmínek |url=https://www.irozhlas.cz/zpravy-svet/slovensko-zuzana-caputova-referendum-ustava-ustavni-soud_2209122016_ara |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=iROZHLAS |language=cs |archive-date=14 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214182839/https://www.irozhlas.cz/zpravy-svet/slovensko-zuzana-caputova-referendum-ustava-ustavni-soud_2209122016_ara |url-status=live }} Following the murder of Ján Kuciak in 2018, the Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OĽaNO) topped the polls and defeated SMER in the 2020 parliamentary election.{{Cite news |date=1 March 2020 |title=Slovaquie: le parti anticorruption OLaNO sort vainqueur des législatives |language=fr |work=Le Monde |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2020/03/01/slovaquie-le-premier-ministre-reconnait-sa-defaite-aux-legislatives_6031383_3210.html |access-date=20 January 2023 |archive-date=14 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214182839/https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2020/03/01/slovaquie-le-premier-ministre-reconnait-sa-defaite-aux-legislatives_6031383_3210.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=29 February 2020 |title=Législatives en Slovaquie: nette victoire du parti anti-corruption |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/monde/les-slovaques-votent-aux-legislatives-avant-tout-contre-la-corruption-29-02-2020-2364992_24.php |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=Le Point |language=fr |archive-date=14 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214182847/https://www.lepoint.fr/monde/les-slovaques-votent-aux-legislatives-avant-tout-contre-la-corruption-29-02-2020-2364992_24.php |url-status=live }} Igor Matovič, the leader of OĽaNO, replaced Peter Pellegrini as prime minister of Slovakia and headed a coalition government with We Are Family (SR), Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), and For the People (ZĽ).{{Cite news |date=23 March 2020 |title=Coronavirus. Le gouvernement slovaque prête serment masques sur le visage et gants aux mains |language=fr |work=Ouest France |url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/sante/virus/coronavirus/coronavirus-le-gouvernement-slovaque-prete-serment-masques-sur-le-visage-et-gants-aux-mains-6789125 |access-date=20 January 2023 |archive-date=20 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120123104/https://www.ouest-france.fr/sante/virus/coronavirus/coronavirus-le-gouvernement-slovaque-prete-serment-masques-sur-le-visage-et-gants-aux-mains-6789125 |url-status=live }}
Following a political crisis in March 2021 that was caused when Matovič announced the purchase of Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccines, without obtaining the approval of his coalition partners, Matovič was forced to step down as prime minister and was replaced by Eduard Heger.{{Cite web |date=4 May 2021 |title=Slovakia's new government wins mandatory confidence vote |url=https://apnews.com/article/slovakia-europe-coronavirus-health-government-and-politics-d2cf8a64bfdcf3e5adfbe2a27184d6a6 |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=Associated Press |language=en |archive-date=14 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114213743/https://apnews.com/article/slovakia-europe-coronavirus-health-government-and-politics-d2cf8a64bfdcf3e5adfbe2a27184d6a6 |url-status=live }} OĽaNO, SR, SaS, and ZĽ continued their cooperation, although SaS left the government in September 2022 due to their differences on economic policy.{{Cite web |last=Chatignoux |first=Catherine |date=22 March 2021 |title=Le vaccin russe provoque l'implosion du gouvernement slovaque |url=https://www.lesechos.fr/monde/europe/le-vaccin-russe-provoque-limplosion-du-gouvernement-slovaque-1300443 |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=Les Echos |language=fr |archive-date=14 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214182841/https://www.lesechos.fr/monde/europe/le-vaccin-russe-provoque-limplosion-du-gouvernement-slovaque-1300443 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=13 September 2022 |title=Le président slovaque nomme de nouveaux ministres dans un gouvernement minoritaire |url=https://www.zonebourse.com/actualite-bourse/Le-president-slovaque-nomme-de-nouveaux-ministres-dans-un-gouvernement-minoritaire--41760182/ |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=Zone Bourse |language=fr |archive-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008155007/https://www.zonebourse.com/actualite-bourse/Le-president-slovaque-nomme-de-nouveaux-ministres-dans-un-gouvernement-minoritaire--41760182/ |url-status=live }} Heger's government faced a motion of no confidence in December 2022, which successfully passed.{{Cite web |date=15 December 2022 |title=Slovaquie: le parlement vote la motion de censure contre le gouvernement d'Eduard Heger |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/slovaquie-le-parlement-vote-la-motion-de-censure-contre-le-gouvernement-d-eduard-heger-20221215 |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=Le Figaro |language=fr |archive-date=21 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221232811/https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/slovaquie-le-parlement-vote-la-motion-de-censure-contre-le-gouvernement-d-eduard-heger-20221215 |url-status=live }} Richard Sulík, the leader of SaS, stated that he would be in favour of forming a new government, while president of Slovakia, Zuzana Čaputová, stated that Heger would continue serving as caretaker head of government.{{Cite web |date=16 December 2022 |title=Slovak leader sets framework for snap vote after govt falls |url=https://apnews.com/article/politics-slovakia-zuzana-caputova-c90d0cc1a7d14d39dae9e3b6ae55696e |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=Associated Press |language=en |archive-date=15 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115160720/https://apnews.com/article/politics-slovakia-zuzana-caputova-c90d0cc1a7d14d39dae9e3b6ae55696e |url-status=live }} This gave the opportunity for members of parliament to modify the constitution to organise early elections, and if failing to do so, a new government will have to be formed.
Conduct
Voters without permanent residence in Slovakia and voters with permanent residence in Slovakia who would not be in Slovakia on the day of the referendum will be able to vote in the referendum.{{Cite web |date=3 November 2022 |title=Prezidentka vyhlási referendum na 21. januára 2023 |url=https://www.prezident.sk/article/prezidentka-vyhlasi-referendum-na-21-januara-2023/ |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=Prezidentka Slovenskej republiky |language=sk |archive-date=20 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220023928/https://www.prezident.sk/article/prezidentka-vyhlasi-referendum-na-21-januara-2023/ |url-status=live }} Additionally, citizens that are in quarantine will be able to vote.{{Cite web |date=10 November 2022 |title=NRSR: Špeciálna forma hlasovania pre voličov v izolácii bude platiť i v referende |url=https://www.nrsr.sk/web/Default.aspx?sid=udalosti%2Fudalost&MasterID=56228 |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=Národná rada Slovenskej republiky |language=sk-SK |archive-date=14 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114162523/https://www.nrsr.sk/web/Default.aspx?sid=udalosti%2Fudalost&MasterID=56228 |url-status=live }} Approval of a referendum in Slovakia requires a double majority: over 50% of registered voters must participate, and a majority of those voters participating.{{cite web |title=Slovakia |url=https://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/82/ |website=IFES ElectionGuide |publisher=International Foundation for Electoral Systems |access-date=21 January 2023}}
Proposed changes
At the beginning of 2021, SMER, Voice – Social Democracy (HLAS), Slovak National Party (SNS), and Socialisti.sk voiced support for a popular initiative referendum to call a snap election.{{Cite web |date=8 July 2021 |title=Slovaquie: Il n'y aura pas de référendum sur des élections anticipées |url=https://courrierdeuropecentrale.fr/slovaquie-il-ny-aura-pas-de-referendum-sur-des-elections-anticipees/ |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=Le Courrier d'Europe centrale |language=fr-FR |archive-date=14 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214184347/https://courrierdeuropecentrale.fr/slovaquie-il-ny-aura-pas-de-referendum-sur-des-elections-anticipees/ |url-status=live }} They submitted 585,000 signatures to Čaputová shortly before the resignation of Matovič as prime minister. The proposed question was ruled by the Constitutional Court of Slovakia as "a violation of general constitutional rules" and indicated that the referendum should be constitutional, as the proposed referendum would amend the constitution. A new collection of signatures was organised in August 2022; 406,000 signatures in total were submitted.{{Cite web |title=Slowakei, 21. Januar 2023 : Verfahren zur Parlamentsauflösung -- [en allemand] |url=https://sudd.ch/event.php?id=sk012023 |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=sudd.ch |language=fr |archive-date=3 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103001123/https://sudd.ch/event.php?id=sk012023 |url-status=live }} This time, the organisers proposed two questions, one that would ask for the modification of the National Council to call a snap election and the other that would ask for the resignation of Heger's government. Čaputová decided to submit an initiative to the Constitutional Court regarding the second question, which led to criticism from the opposition.{{Cite web |date=12 September 2022 |title=Prezidentka Zuzana Čaputová vypíše referendum - SME Minúta |url=https://www.sme.sk/minuta/23007166/prezidentka-zuzana-caputova-vypise-referendum |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=SME Minúta |language=sk |archive-date=14 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214182846/https://www.sme.sk/minuta/23007166/prezidentka-zuzana-caputova-vypise-referendum |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=12 September 2022 |title=Slovakia will hold opposition-initiated referendum |url=https://spectator.sme.sk/c/23007246/slovakia-will-hold-opposition-initiated-referendum.html |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=The Slovak Spectator |language=en |archive-date=11 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111100738/https://spectator.sme.sk/c/23007246/slovakia-will-hold-opposition-initiated-referendum.html |url-status=live }} The Constitutional Court later ruled the second question as unconstitutional, while Čaputová announced that the referendum would be held on 21 January 2023.{{Cite news |last=Sybera |first=Albin |date=4 November 2022 |title=Slovak president sets date for referendum on early election |work=Intellinews |url=https://bne.eu/slovak-president-sets-date-for-referendum-on-early-election-261421/?source=slovakia |access-date=20 January 2023 |archive-date=9 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209182111/https://bne.eu/slovak-president-sets-date-for-referendum-on-early-election-261421/?source=slovakia |url-status=live }} Heger stated that "snap elections have no place in a democracy".{{Cite web |last=Dlhopolec |first=Peter |date=10 January 2023 |title=Slovakia in 2023: Seeking an End to Political Chaos Without Becoming a 'Little Hungary' |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2023/01/10/slovakia-in-2023-seeking-an-end-to-political-chaos-without-becoming-a-little-hungary/ |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=Balkan Insight |language=en-US |archive-date=14 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114105258/https://balkaninsight.com/2023/01/10/slovakia-in-2023-seeking-an-end-to-political-chaos-without-becoming-a-little-hungary/ |url-status=live }}
=Question=
The question on the referendum paper was posed as:
{{blockquote|Súhlasíte s tým, že predčasné skončenie volebného obdobia Národnej rady Slovenskej republiky je možné uskutočniť referendom alebo uznesením Národnej rady Slovenskej republiky, a to zmenou Ústavy Slovenskej republiky?
"Do you agree that the early termination of the election period of the National Council of the Slovak Republic can be carried out by a referendum or a resolution of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, namely by changing the Constitution of the Slovak Republic?"{{Cite web |last=Belej Majerčínová |first=Adriána |date=29 October 2022 |title=Ficovo referendum vládu nepovalí: Nasledovalo by ďalšie alebo rozhodnú poslanci |url=https://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/645246-ficovo-referendum-vladu-nepovali-nasledovalo-by-dalsie-alebo-rozhodnu-poslanci/ |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=Pravda |language=sk-SK |archive-date=13 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113064758/https://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/645246-ficovo-referendum-vladu-nepovali-nasledovalo-by-dalsie-alebo-rozhodnu-poslanci/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=PETIČNÝ HÁROK: Petícia za vyhlásenie referenda o páde vlády Slovenskej republiky a zmene Ústavy Slovenskej republiky |url=https://strana-smer.sk/storage/app/media/Referendum_2022_Peticny_Harok.pdf |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=SMER |language=sk |archive-date=12 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112230630/https://strana-smer.sk/storage/app/media/Referendum_2022_Peticny_Harok.pdf |url-status=live }}}}
Reception
= Opinion polls =
Focus conducted an opinion poll in June 2021 in which 52.9% of the voters that they would turn out to vote in a potential referendum, while 33.7% stated that they would not.{{Cite web |last=Krempaský |first=Ján |date=27 June 2021 |title=Väčšina opýtaných chce ísť na referendum. Sociológ však očakáva len tretinovú účasť |url=https://domov.sme.sk/c/22690592/referendum-2021-prieskum-predcasne-volby-vysledky.html |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=SME Domov |language=sk |archive-date=10 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210123748/https://domov.sme.sk/c/22690592/referendum-2021-prieskum-predcasne-volby-vysledky.html |url-status=live }} In November 2022, AKO conducted an opinion poll in which 54.2% of the voters stated that they would turn out to vote in the referendum, while 38.9% of the voters stated that they would not.{{Cite web |last=Katuška |first=Michal |date=1 December 2022 |title=Prieskum: Referendum má potenciál byť úspešné, sociológ Hřích by si na to zatiaľ nestavil |url=https://domov.sme.sk/c/23084218/prieskum-referendum-ma-potencial-byt-uspesne-sociolog-hrich-by-si-na-to-zatial-nestavil.html |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=SME Domov |language=sk |archive-date=10 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210042850/https://domov.sme.sk/c/23084218/prieskum-referendum-ma-potencial-byt-uspesne-sociolog-hrich-by-si-na-to-zatial-nestavil.html |url-status=live }}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%; line-height:16px; margin-bottom:0"
! rowspan="2" style="width:120px"| Polling organization ! rowspan="2" style="width:100px"| Date ! Yes ! No ! rowspan="2"| Don't know ! rowspan="2"| Lead |
| style="background:green; width:60px"|
| style="background:red; width:60px"| |
| AKO{{cite news |title=Prieskum: S možnosťou skrátiť volebné obdobie referendom súhlasia dve tretiny opýtaných |url=https://domov.sme.sk/c/22793620/prieskum-ako-referendum-predcasne-volby.html |access-date=20 January 2023 |work=SME Domov |date=30 November 2021 |language=sk |archive-date=30 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130153950/https://domov.sme.sk/c/22793620/prieskum-ako-referendum-predcasne-volby.html |url-status=live }}
| {{nowrap|8–16 November 2021}} | style="background:lightgreen"| 63.1 | 34.2 | 2.7 ! style="background:green; color:white"| 28.9 |
= Overall positions =
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Position ! colspan="2"| Name ! Ideology ! {{abbr|Ref|Reference}} |
| rowspan="13"| {{tick|15}} Yes
| bgcolor="{{party color|Direction – Slovak Social Democracy}}"| | Direction – Social Democracy (SMER–SD) |
| bgcolor="{{party color|Voice – Social Democracy}}"|
| Voice – Social Democracy (HLAS–SD) |
| bgcolor="{{party color|Republic (Slovakia)}}"|
| Republic |
| bgcolor="{{party color|Life – National Party}}"|
| Life – National Party (ŽIVOT) |
| bgcolor="#0C4DA2"|
| Slovak PATRIOT (PATRIOT) |{{Cite web |date=18 January 2023 |title=REFERENDUM 2023|url=https://www.facebook.com/radacovskypatriot/posts/pfbid02ikvs3qL3h66ixftfbu4CACQn8Tc4jRHccU7qKonopbzLVdhtodtgbZcuTQ7AvwAtl |access-date=21 January 2023 |author=Miroslav Radačovský |website=Facebook |language=sk}} |
| bgcolor="{{party color|Slovak National Party}}"|
| Slovak National Party (SNS) |
| bgcolor="{{party color|Socialisti.sk}}"| |
| bgcolor="{{party color|Communist Party of Slovakia}}"|
| Communist Party of Slovakia (KSS) |
| bgcolor="{{party color|99% – Civic Voice}}"|
| 99% – Civic Voice (99%) |
| bgcolor="{{party color|People's Party – Movement for a Democratic Slovakia}}"|
| National Coalition / Independent Candidates (NK/NEKA) | Populism |
| bgcolor="#AA1801"|
| Slovak Revival Movement (SHO) |
| bgcolor="#034DA2"|
| Nation and Justice – Our Party (NAS) |
| bgcolor="#02559B"|
| Home National Party (DOMOV–NS) |
| rowspan="13"| {{cross|15}} Boycott
| bgcolor="{{party color|Ordinary People and Independent Personalities}}"| |
| {{party color cell|Freedom and Solidarity}}
| Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) |
| {{party color cell|For the People (Slovakia)}}
| For the People (ZĽ) |
| bgcolor="{{party color|New Majority (Slovakia)}}"|
| New Majority (NOVA) |
| bgcolor="{{party color|Zmena zdola}}"|
| Change from Bottom (ZZ) |
| bgcolor="{{party color|Civic Conservative Party (Slovakia)}}"|
| Civic Conservative Party (OKS) |
| bgcolor="{{party color|Progressive Slovakia}}"|
| Progressive Slovakia (PS) |
| bgcolor="#007FFF"|
| Together – Civic Democracy (SPOLU) |
| bgcolor="{{party color|Good Choice}}"|
| Good Choice and Moderates (DV) |
| bgcolor="{{party color|Hungarian Forum}}"|
| Hungarian Forum (MF) |
| bgcolor="#1C1D91"|
| Civic Democrats of Slovakia (ODS) |
| bgcolor="#109EC3"|
| Chance (ŠANCA) |
| bgcolor="#1985F2"|
| Democrats of Slovakia (DS) |{{Cite web |date=20 January 2023 |title=Pytali sa ma, či sa zúčastním referenda. |url=https://www.facebook.com/ludo.kanik.9/posts/pfbid02PpbxBbxd5UWjS45wXfZSbd2TnFnCNP2JSYjT6kH311kfnMhtMczeEnFT3GDixjzcl |access-date=21 January 2023 |author=Ľudovít Kaník |website=Facebook |language=sk }} |
| rowspan="5"| {{steady}} Neutral
| bgcolor="{{party color|We Are Family (Slovakia)}}"| | We Are Family (SR) |
| bgcolor="{{party color|People's Party Our Slovakia}}"|
| People's Party Our Slovakia (ĽSNS) | {{efn|name=neutral|ĽSNS did not make its announcement.}} |
| bgcolor="{{party color|Christian Democratic Movement}}"|
| Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) |
| bgcolor="{{party color|Alliance (Slovak political party)}}"|
| Alliance |
| bgcolor="#E31E24"|
| HEART–Slovak National Unity–Party of Patriots (SRDCE–SNJ–sv) |
Results
Polling stations were opened from 07:00 (UTC+01:00) to 22:00.{{Cite web |date=January 2023 |title=Metodický pokyn na prípravu a zabezpečenie referenda a spracovanie výsledkov hlasovania v referende |url=https://volbysr.sk/ref/files/R23_Metodick%C3%BDPokyn.pdf |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=Ministerstvo vnútra Slovenskej Republiky |page=9 |language=sk |archive-date=20 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120124129/https://volbysr.sk/ref/files/R23_Metodick%C3%BDPokyn.pdf |url-status=live }} As only 27% of the electorate turned out to vote while a majority of votes and a minimum of 50% turnout was required to pass the proposal, the referendum failed.{{Cite news |date=22 January 2023 |title=Referendum in Slovakia fails to bring early vote closer |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/referendum-slovakia-fails-bring-early-vote-closer-2023-01-22/ |access-date=22 January 2023}}{{Cite web |last=S.A |first=Telewizja Polska |title=Slovak constitutional referendum fails due to low turnout: partial results |url=https://tvpworld.com/65790118/slovak-constitutional-referendum-fails-due-to-low-turnout-partial-results |access-date=22 January 2023 |website=tvpworld.com |language=en}}
{{Referendum results
|for=1163586
|against=18398
|invalid=10265
|electorate=4377565
|source=[https://www.volbysr.sk/ref/en/vysledky_hlasovania_v_referende.html Volby]
}}
Aftermath
Just days following the failure of the referendum, the National Council voted on 25 January to amend the constitution to allow for snap elections if approved by a three-fifths majority in the council.{{cite web |title=Slovakia parliament changes constitution to enable snap vote |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/slovakia-parliament-constitution-enable-snap-vote-96657216 |website=ABC News |access-date=7 February 2023}} It was agreed that the next parliamentary election would be held on 30 September 2023.{{Cite news |date=22 January 2023 |title=Slovakia's former coalition heads agree to early parliamentary elections |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovakias-former-coalition-heads-agree-early-parliamentary-elections-2023-01-22/ |access-date=7 February 2023}}
Analysis
The Matej Bel Institute analysed the electoral behaviour of four national minorities in Slovakia. They observed significantly distinct electoral behaviour differing from the Slovak population. The institute's analysis showed that Rusyns turned out in higher proportions, 8–14 percentage points above the national average, while turnout amongst Gorals was around the national average with slight positive deviation (<1 percentage point). Meanwhile Hungarians and Roma turned out in significantly lower numbers (13–18 points below the national turnout), even when controlling for Hungarian–Roma communities concentrated in Gemer region. The analysis also concluded that minority populations could not be won over by a general national campaign.{{Cite web |date=24 January 2023 |title=Analýza IMB: Účasť menšinových voličov na januárovom referende |trans-title=IMB Analysis: Minority electorate turnout in January referendum |url=https://www.institutmatejabela.sk/post/anal%C3%BDza-imb-%C3%BA%C4%8Das%C5%A5-men%C5%A1inov%C3%BDch-voli%C4%8Dov-na-janu%C3%A1rovom-referende |url-status=live |access-date=13 January 2025 |website=Inštitút Mateja Bela |language=sk }}
Notes
{{notelist}}