Danish land laws referendum, 1963
Encyclopedia
A referendum on land laws was held in Denmark
on 25 June 1963.. The four land laws, which had already been passed by the Danish parliament, were rejected by voters. It was the first, and so far only, time in Danish history that a law passed by parliament had been sent to a public referendum by a minority in parliament.
On May 31, 1963, Prime Minister
Jens Otto Krag
's two parties in government (the Social Democrats
and the Social Liberal Party), along with the Socialist People's Party
, passed ten land laws in parliament. The remaining parties (the Liberals
, the Conservative People's Party
, and the Independent Party
) voted against the laws.
On the same day, 71 of 179 members of parliament (i.e. every member of the Liberals and the Conservative People's Party) handed in a signed decree that a public referendum must be held about four of these laws. In doing so, they invoked chapter 42, section 1 in the Danish constitution which states that a law that has been passed can be sent to a public referendum if one third of parliament signs a decree. This chapter and section of the constitution had never been used before.
in rural areas. According to the law, anyone acquiring an agricultural estate was required to take residence at the estate within six months of the acquisition. Acquisition of more than one such estate was to require permission from the Minister for Agriculture
.
(10,000 m2) or more, the state would have the first option to buy said property. The purpose of the law was to give the state the opportunity to acquire land for use in agriculture, gartnering, recreational areas, or public purposes.
and that the law affected properties of 6,000 m2 or more.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
on 25 June 1963.. The four land laws, which had already been passed by the Danish parliament, were rejected by voters. It was the first, and so far only, time in Danish history that a law passed by parliament had been sent to a public referendum by a minority in parliament.
Background
Prime Minister of Denmark
The Prime Minister of Denmark is the head of government in Danish politics. The Prime Minister is traditionally the leader of a political coalition in the Folketing and presides over the cabinet....
Jens Otto Krag
Jens Otto Krag
Jens Otto Krag was a Danish politician. He was Prime Minister from 1962 to 1968 and again from 1971 to 1972....
's two parties in government (the Social Democrats
Social Democrats (Denmark)
The Social Democrats , is a Danish political party committed to the political ideology of social democracy. It is the major coalition partner in Denmark's government since the 2011 parliamentary election, and party leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt is the current Prime Minister of Denmark...
and the Social Liberal Party), along with the Socialist People's Party
Socialist People's Party (Denmark)
The Socialist People's Party is a green and socialist political party in Denmark.-1959–69:The SF was founded on 15 February 1959 by Aksel Larsen, a former leader of the Communist Party of Denmark and CIA agent. Larsen was removed from the ranks of the DKP for his criticism over the Soviet...
, passed ten land laws in parliament. The remaining parties (the Liberals
Venstre (Denmark)
VenstreThe party name is officially not translated into any other language, but is in English often referred to as the Liberal Party. Similar rules apply for the name of the party's youth wing Venstres Ungdom. , full name Venstre, Danmarks Liberale Parti , is the largest political party in Denmark...
, the Conservative People's Party
Conservative People's Party (Denmark)
The Conservative People's Party , also known as Conservatives is a Danish political party.-History:The party was founded 1915 based mostly on its predecessor, Højre , but also on the Free Conservatives and a moderate faction of Venstre , the liberals.The party has participated in several coalition...
, and the Independent Party
Independent Party (Denmark)
The Independent Party is a liberalist and anti-elitist political party in Denmark. It was formed in 1953 as a breakaway party from Venstre as a protest against the established centre-right parties' cooperation with the Social Democrats. The Independent Party later got an anti-elitist character....
) voted against the laws.
On the same day, 71 of 179 members of parliament (i.e. every member of the Liberals and the Conservative People's Party) handed in a signed decree that a public referendum must be held about four of these laws. In doing so, they invoked chapter 42, section 1 in the Danish constitution which states that a law that has been passed can be sent to a public referendum if one third of parliament signs a decree. This chapter and section of the constitution had never been used before.
Obligatory residence
The first of the four laws sent to public referendum concerned the obligatory residence of agricultural estatesAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
in rural areas. According to the law, anyone acquiring an agricultural estate was required to take residence at the estate within six months of the acquisition. Acquisition of more than one such estate was to require permission from the Minister for Agriculture
Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries (Denmark)
Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark is the politically appointed head of the Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and a member of the Cabinet...
.
State's first option to buy
This law stated that, when a land owner sold a property in a rural area of 1 hectareHectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
(10,000 m2) or more, the state would have the first option to buy said property. The purpose of the law was to give the state the opportunity to acquire land for use in agriculture, gartnering, recreational areas, or public purposes.
Town's first option to buy
Unlike the first two laws, this law centered on properties outside of rural areas, i.e. in towns and the outskirts of towns. The contents and intent of the law were much like those of the laws regarding the state's first option to buy, except that the purchaser would be the municipalitiesMunicipalities of Denmark
This is a list of Municipalities of Denmark.-Region Hovedstaden:* Albertslund Municipality* Allerød Municipality* Ballerup Municipality* Bornholm Regional Municipality* Brøndby Municipality* Copenhagen Municipality* Dragør Municipality* Egedal Municipality...
and that the law affected properties of 6,000 m2 or more.
Preservation of natural amenities
The fourth law was to make it possible to list areas for protection on basis of their natural beauty, their location, or their peculiarity.Obligatory residence
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| For | 843,756 | 38.4 |
| Against | 1,354,588 | 61.6 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 23,920 | – |
| Total | 2,222,264 | 100 |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver | ||
State's first option to buy
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| For | 848,494 | 38.6 |
| Against | 1,347,942 | 61.4 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 25,687 | – |
| Total | 2,222,123 | 100 |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver | ||
Town's first option to buy
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| For | 872,042 | 39.6 |
| Against | 1,328,036 | 60.4 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 22,160 | – |
| Total | 2,222,238 | 100 |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver | ||
Preservation of natural amenities
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| For | 937,259 | 42.6 |
| Against | 1,261,545 | 57.4 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 23,391 | – |
| Total | 2,222,195 | 100 |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver | ||