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Electoral Rights for Non–Nationals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 May 2009

H. U. Jessurun d'Oliveira
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Extract

The question whether non-nationals can take part in domestic elections at local, regional or national level is of major theoretical and practical significance. Under the new Dutch constitution, non-Dutch residents can for the first time be given the right by law to vote and stand in local council elections. After casting a glance over the border at the situation in other countries, the writer raises the question of whether the present revision of the constitution is not too limited in that it restricts these rights to local council elections.

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Articles
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Netherlands International Law Review , Volume 31 , Issue 1 , May 1984 , pp. 59 - 72
Copyright
Copyright © T.M.C. Asser Press 1984

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References

** This article is an edited version of the President's address delivered at the annual meeting of the Dutch Society for Comparative Law held at ‘Het Gravensteen’ in Leyden on 26 February 1983. A first version was published in Nederlands Juristenblad 1982, pp. 598–603.

1. See in this connection, Willemsen, Bert, ‘Meekiezen is meetellen,’ Ars Aequi Special, 't Is een vreemdelingzeker, (1981) pp. 580–585Google Scholar.

2. Lower House of Parliament 1982–1983, 17 600, Chapter VII, no. 15, List of replies nos. 49 and 50.

3. Parliamentary proceedings 17 263 dated 30-12-1981. The final report of the Committee for the Dutch Antilles was published on 17 May 1983.

4. Loc.cit. (note 2) no. 51.

5. Lower House 1982–1983, 18 600, Chapter VII, No. 2, p. 16.

6. See Nederlands Juristenblad (1984) p. 222.

7. In a report of 5 March 1981 the Electoral Council recommended a period of three years for the right to vote and five years for the right to stand for election.

8. The Explanatory Notes to the Kingdom Act for the Amendment of the Charter refer, for example, to “the realisation of a legal development alive in the Netherlands” only time will tell whether this lovable little creature, whatever it may be, will manage to settle down here!

9. See also the answer to written questions no. 1041/81 of MrCostanzo, and MrsCerretti, Cassanmagnago by the European Commission (OJ 12, 18 01 1982, also published in Rev. crit. (1983) p. 133)Google Scholar.

10. JO, 30 October 1981, p. 2970; also printed in, Rev. crit. (1982), p. 172.

11. Turpin, Dominique, “Le nouveau régime juridique des étrangers en France: changement et continuiteé”, Rev. crit. (1982) p. 58Google Scholar.

12. Reproduced by Lamers, Karl A., Repräsentation und Integration der Ausländer in der Bundesrepublik Deutschhnd unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Wahlrechts. Zugleich eine rechtsvergleichende Studie über das Kommunalwahlrecht in den Staaten der Europäischen Gemeinschaften, (1977)Google Scholar.

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16. See Rittstieg, Helmut, Wahlrecht für Ausländer, Verfassungsfragen der Teilnahme von Ausländer an der Wahl in der Wohngemeinde, (Athenäum Verlag 1981), 71 pp.Google Scholar, an advisory report of the “freie und Hansestadt Hamburg”.

17. Zuleeg, Manfred, Archiv des ö;ffentlichen Rechts (1981), Vol. 3, p. 494Google Scholar; Von Lohneysen, , loc.cit., p. 333Google Scholar.

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21. See Trost, Rachel S., “British Nationality – The 1981 Act,” New Law Journal (1983), p. 5Google Scholar; and on the new law in general: Macdonald, and Blake, , “The New Nationality Law” (1982)Google Scholar.

22. See for instance De Volkskrant, 3 August 1982.

23. See Stjernquist, Nils, “Die Schwedische Verfassung von 1975”, Jahrbuch des ōffentlichen Rechts, no. 26, pp. 317–371, on p. 331Google Scholar.

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25. For a survey, see, Geurst, Petra, Bestuurswetenschappen 1982, pp. 57–59Google Scholar.

26. Pb. 1976, no. L278/1, Netherlands Treaty Series (1976) p. 175. See in this connection, Herman, Valentine, “Direct Election to the European Parliament: Comparative Perspectives,” Common Market Law Review (1979), pp. 209–222Google Scholar.

27. See Bosscher, R., “Preparations for Direct Elections in the Netherlands”, Common Market Law Review (1978), pp. 465–472Google Scholar.

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29. Evans, A.C., “The Political Status of Aliens in International Law, Municipal Law and European Community Law”, ICLQ (1981), p. 36Google Scholar.

30. PE 64.569/A-C def; DOC. 1–998/81/A-C. This also contains a short comparative survey of the statutory measures taken by the member states in connection with the election of the European Parliament.

31. Pb. no. C87/62 dated 5 April 1982.

32. See point 11 of the EC Bulletin 1974, no. 12, p. 7 et seq.

33. See the Report of the Commission concerning the implementation of point 11 of the Final Communiqué of the Paris Summit Conference of 9 and 10 December 1974, EC Bulletin, suppl. 7/75, and Evans, , op.cit., p. 40Google Scholar.

34. See for instance; Volkskrant, of 19 and 21 February 1983.

35. See for instance 13 991 no. 3a of the Statement of Reply, Upper House pp. 1–2 (3 January 1980).

36. Also, Swart, A.H.J., “De toelating en uitzetting van vreemdelingen” (1978), p. 226Google Scholar.

37. See for instance van der Swan, Ard, “Overzicht van sociaal recht voor buitenlanders,” in Ars Aequi Special, 't Is een vreemdeling zeker, (1981), pp. 618–626Google Scholar.

38. Sik, Ko Swan, “Nationaliteit en het Volkenrecht,” advisory report of the Netherlands Association for International Law (1981) p. 15Google Scholar.

39. Grabitz, Eberhard, “Der Verfassungsstaat in der Gemeinschaft”, DVBI (1977) p. 791Google Scholar.

40. ICLQ (1981), p. 41.

41. Also: Heringa, & Zwart, , “Facelift van een oude dame? The 1983 Constitution”, NJB (1983), p. 245Google Scholar: “Opponents of the granting of electoral rights to aliens for elections for the provincial councils and the Lower House of Parliament should realise that they will as a result be deprived of an important political instrument which they could otherwise use as a defence against discrimination.” See for a similar argument: Groenendijk, , “Van gastarbeider tot medeburger”, Beleid en Maatschappij (1979), pp. 52–63Google Scholar; also printed in “Tussen wal en schip”, theme number of lntermediair, (1980), p. 36.

42. Cf. Swart, , op.cit. p. 225 et seqGoogle Scholar.

43. See in this connection the Memorandum of the Nationality Law Sub-Group of the Working Party on Problems in Dutch Law for Ethnic Minorities, which appeared in early February 1983 (obtainable from the Nederlands Centrum Buitenlanders in Utrecht). See also d'Oliveira, H.U. Jessurun, “Burgers en Buitenlui”, NJB (1983) pp. 1301–1310, at p. 1303Google Scholar. These pleas have led to a modification of the Draft Nationality Act.

44. Also, P.L.G. van Velzen, “Benoembaarheid op gelijke voet, Grondrcchten, Commentaar op Hoofdstuk I van de Herziene Grondwet”, presented to Jeukcns, H.J.M., Ars Aequi Libri (1982) p. 127Google Scholar.

45. See for a historical survey the dissertation of van Veen, W.H., Kiesrecht voor niet-Nederlanders? pp. 14–24Google Scholar (submitted at the University of Groningen).

46. See in the Netherlands for instance de Winter, L.I., “Nationality or Domicile, The Present State of Affairs”, Hague Recueil (1969) pp. 347–503Google Scholar; d'Oliveira, H.U. Jessurun, “Vermolming van het nationaliteitsbeginsel? Het Personeel Statuut (1980) pp. 2–6/18–23Google Scholar; Kotting, R., “Etnische minderheden en internationaal familierecht”, Ars Aequi Special, 't Is een vreemdeling zeker, (1981) pp. 586–595Google Scholar; Haandrikman, A.G.J.J., “De nationaliteit in het internationaal privaatrecht”, advisory report of the Netherlands International Law Association (1981)Google Scholar.

47. A replacement of the Act governing the appointability of aliens to posts in the public service, of 8 June 1858 (Bulletin of Acts, Orders and Decrees 46) is currently being prepared in order to create more opportunities for aliens. Cf., de Policy Report on Minorities (Lower House 1982–1983, 16.102 nrs. 20–21), p. 58.

48. See for instance Willems, J.C.M., “Nederlanders and vreemdelingen”, in the collection referred to in note 41, p. 76 et seqGoogle Scholar.

49. See the deliberations on the Bill, 14.200 in, Algehele Grondwetsherziening, first lecture part lb, Fundamental rights (1981) p. 180 et seq.

50. See S&J no. 48, p. 211.