From Our Foreign Bureaus: Thai Coup, Israeli Land Referenda?

Joe Mathews — Fri, 23 May 2008 13:43:00 -0400

COULD VOTE SPARK COUP? Thailand's premier wants to hold a referendum in July asking voters there whether they support amending the country's constitution. That constitution was drafted largely by the military, and there is fear in Thailand that the premier's push for a referendum could bring on a military coup.

NUCLEAR ITALY: Italian voters closed down their nuclear power industry by referendum in 1987. But the new government there wants to start construction on a new nuclear power plant in 2013. That should require another popular vote, though the government isn't saying.,

VOTING ON LAND: The Israeli Knesset is considering a bill that would require a vote of the people before the country gives up any of its territory, including the Golan, a subject of the newly disclosed direct talks with Syria.

HUNGARY HEALTH REPEAL: Hungary may repeal its health care law, which is unpopular because of high fees, and thus make a planned referendum vote on the legislation unnecessary.

BOLIVIAN SECOND THOUGHTS: The backers of the Aug. 10 recall vote on Bolivian president Evo Morales seem to be having second thoughts. This link is to a story in Spanish, folks. (Hat tip to the blog, Two Weeks Notice, done by Greg Weeks, a Latin America scholar at UNC Charlotte)

POSTERIZING DUBLIN: The yes campaign for the June 12 referendum on the new European Union Lisbon Treaty in Ireland (the only country permitting its citizens to vote on ratification) may have gotten a little out of hand in placing posters on every conceivable surface in the Irish capital.

From Our Overseas Bureaus: Ukraine to Vote on NATO?

Joe Mathews — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:13:00 -0400

YUSHCHENKO PLEDGES VOTE: Ukraine's president says the country will hold a popular referendum on joining NATO within two years.

CAYMANS VOTE: The Cayman Islands are moving towards its first ever popular referendum, a vote the prime minister wants on his proposals for a "modernized" constitution. This story from the Caymanian Compass, a national newspaper there, says the referendum may include more than one question.

SCOTS ON THEIR OWN: Scots want to vote on independence, a new poll says.

ISRAELI VOTE? The Israeli Knesset debates the wisdom of holding a public referendum on territorial concessions.

SOLVING PAKISTAN'S CRISIS: How to restore those Pakistani judges deposed by Musharraf? Former parliamentarian Haji Saifullah Khan suggests a popular referendum might solve the problem -- and give the judiciary new public legitimacy.