1990 Slovenian independence referendum

1990 Slovenian independence referendum

23 December 1990 (1990-12-23)
Should the Republic of Slovenia become an independent and sovereign state?
Results
Choice Votes % Yes 1,289,369 95.71% No 57,800 4.29% Valid votes 1,347,169 99.09% Invalid or blank votes 12,412 0.91% Total votes 1,359,581 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 1,457,020 93.31%

An independence referendum was held in the Republic of Slovenia (then part of SFR Yugoslavia) on 23 December 1990.^[1] Both the ruling center-right coalition and the left-wing opposition supported the referendum and called on voters to support Slovenian independence.

The voters were asked the question: "Should the Republic of Slovenia become an independent and sovereign state?" (Slovene: Ali naj Republika Slovenija postane samostojna in neodvisna država?).^[2] The Slovenian parliament set a threshold for the validity of the plebiscite at 50% and one of all registered voters.^[3][4]

There were 1,499,294 people entitled to vote. However, 42,274 people could not vote because they were working abroad or involved in military service or military exercises, reducing the electorate to 1,457,020.^[5]

Results

On 26 December the results of the referendum were officially proclaimed by France Bučar in the Assembly. 88% of registered voters (95% of those participating) had voted in favour of independence, therefore exceeding the threshold. 4% had voted against independence, while 1% had cast invalid ballots and 0.1% had returned their ballots unused.^[5] 7% of the potential electorate did not participate in the elections.

Choice		Votes	%
For		1,289,369	95.71
Against		57,800	4.29
Total		1,347,169	100.00
Valid votes		1,347,169	99.09
Invalid/blank votes		12,412	0.91
Total votes		1,359,581	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		1,457,020	93.31
Source: Statistical Office[5]

Aftermath

Bučar's announcement obliged the Slovenian authorities to declare the independence of the country within six months. On 25 June 1991 the Basic Constitutional Charter on the Independence and Sovereignty of the Republic of Slovenia was passed and independence was declared the following day, leading to the Ten-Day War.

References

1. "Z drevišnjo proslavo v Cankarjevem domu bomo obeležili obletnico plebiscita" [With the celebration in the Cankar Hall this evening we will commemorate the anniversary of the plebiscite] (in Slovenian). Slovenian Press Agency. 23 November 2011. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
2. Felicijan Bratož, Suzana (2007). Prevzem arhivskega gradiva plebiscitnega referenduma o samostojnosti Republike Slovenije [Acquisition of Plebiscite on the Sovereignty and Independence of the Republic of Slovenia Archives] (PDF). 6. zbornik referatov dopolnilnega izobraževanja s področja arhivistike, dokumentalistike in informatike v Radencih od 28. do 30. marca 2007 (in Slovenian and English). Regional Archives Maribor. pp. 453–458. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-11-13.
3. "Zakon o plebiscitu o samostojnosti in neodvisnosti Republike Slovenije" [Plebiscite on the Sovereignty and Independence of the Republic of Slovenia Act] (PDF). Uradni List (in Slovenian). XLVII (44): 2033–2034. 6 December 1990. ISSN 0350-4964."Intervju: Rosvita Pesek" [Interview: Rosvita Pesek]. Reporter (in Slovenian). 26 December 2008. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012.
4. "Plebiscit o samostojnosti – čas največje politične enotnosti" [Independence Referendum – the Time of the Largest Political Unity] (in Slovenian). Delo.si. 23 November 2011. ISSN 1854-6544.
5. "Volitve" [Elections]. Statistični letopis 2011 [Statistical Yearbook 2011]. Vol. 15. Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia. 2011. p. 108. ISSN 1318-5403.