Slovenians saved water from privatization thanks to a Citizens’ Initiative Referendum.
Thanks to the love of the Slovenian people, water has remained a common good. This protection is crucial as water scarcity increases in Europe.
In 2021, the ruling national-conservative right-wing coalition in Slovenia adopted a reform weakening water protections to open it up to competition and allow the commodification of the resource. Faced with this attack on their common good, Slovenians launched a citizens’ initiative referendum to repeal the reform and won with 86.5% of the vote. This is the story of a democratic victory against the illiberals.
Read the full article in La Relève et La Peste in French or in Google English
