1993 Danish Maastricht Treaty referendum

1993 Danish Maastricht Treaty referendum

18 May 1993

Results
Choice
Votes %
Yes 1,930,391 56.74%
No 1,471,914 43.26%
Valid votes 3,402,305 98.99%
Invalid or blank votes 34,635 1.01%
Total votes 3,436,940 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 3,974,672 86.47%

Results by nomination district and constituency
Yes:      50–55%      55–60%      60–65%      65–70%      70%+
No:      50–55%      55–60%      60–65%

A second referendum on the Maastricht Treaty was held in Denmark on 18 May 1993.[1] After rejecting the treaty in a referendum the previous year, this time it was approved by 56.7% of voters with an 86.5% turnout.[2]

Background

It was the second attempt to ratify the Maastricht Treaty, which could not come into effect unless ratified by all members of the European Union. Thus, the Edinburgh Agreement granted Denmark four exceptions from the Maastricht Treaty, leading to its eventual ratification.

Results

Choice Votes %
For 1,930,391 56.7
Against 1,471,914 43.3
Invalid/blank votes 34,635
Total 3,436,940 100
Registered voters/turnout 3,974,672 86.5
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

By county

Region For Against Invalid/
blank
Total Registered
voters
Turnout
Votes % Votes %
Copenhagen & Frederiksberg Municipality 165,469 44.69 204,789 55.31 4,239 374,497 443,444 84.45
Copenhagen County 223,328 55.43 179,589 44.57 3,601 406,518 457,930 88.77
Frederiksborg County 135,740 59.46 92,565 40.54 1,997 230,302 260,378 88.45
Roskilde County 87,768 58.95 61,117 41.05 1,311 150,196 168,528 89.12
West Zealand County 103,915 55.41 83,624 44.59 1,735 189,274 220,084 86.00
Storstrøm County 94,826 55.03 77,490 44.97 1,782 174,098 201,278 86.50
Bornholm County 15,086 53.02 13,366 46.98 415 28,867 34,814 82.92
Fyn County 172,454 56.22 134,317 43.78 3,027 309,798 359,711 86.12
South Jutland County 99,832 61.46 62,609 38.54 1,715 164,156 189,625 86.57
Ribe County 86,284 61.25 54,577 38.75 1,520 142,381 165,827 85.86
Vejle County 133,247 60.77 86,022 39.23 2,327 221,596 256,213 86.49
Ringkjøbing County 114,210 66.42 57,733 33.58 1,989 173,932 201,622 86.27
Århus County 230,835 57.40 171,303 42.60 4,336 406,474 466,296 87.17
Viborg County 92,493 62.79 54,810 37.21 1,719 149,022 174,791 85.26
North Jutland County 174,904 55.90 138,003 44.10 2,922 315,829 374,131 84.42
Source: European Election Database

Aftermath

When the result of the referendum was announced, the outcome and frustrations about the referendum being held only a year after the Danes had rejected the previous treaty led to riots in the Nørrebro area of Copenhagen, during which police shot and wounded at least 11 people "to prevent an injured colleague being stoned to death". These 11 people, not in critical conditions, were subsequently treated for gunshot wounds as a result of the shooting.[3] 90 police officers were injured during the riots.[citation needed]

Notes

  1. ^ Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p525 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. ^ Maastricht-traktaten & Edinburgh-afgørelsen 18. maj 1993 EU Oplysningen (in Danish)
  3. ^ John, Carvel (20 May 1993). "Police shoot 11 in Copenhagen as anti-Maastricht demonstrators riot after the result". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.