The first referendum to be held in Malta took place in 1870. Since then, five other referendums were held, all of them consultative and non-binding. A look at history shows that in all the referendums, held between 1870 and 2011, the proposer of the referendum always had control of the Yes camp and always won.
This time round, the proposer, the Coalition Against Spring Hunting, will be campaigning for the No vote. Will history repeat itself?
1870: Maltese Council of Government referendum
What was it about: a referendum on whether clergy should be eligible to sit in the Council of Government.
Type: consultative and non-binding.
Proposer: Maltese Council of Government.
Vote Yes: if you wanted clergy to sit in the council.
Vote No: if you were against the clergy’s presence in the council.
Turnout: 59.8 per cent.
Who won? The Yes vote won by 96 per cent.
1956: The Integration referendum
What was it about: in this referendum the Maltese had to decide whether to integrate Malta with the UK. This meant the UK Parliament would have control of defence and foreign affairs and direct taxation while the Maltese Parliament would be responsible for all other areas of public life.
Type: consultative and non-binding.
Proposer: Maltese government (Labour).
Vote Yes: if you were for integration.
Vote No: if you did not want integration.
Turnout: 59.1 per cent.
Who won? The Yes vote won by 77 per cent.
NB: Although the Yes camp won, integration was never fully implemented and the country became independent eight years later.
1964: Maltese constitutional referendum
What was it about: a referendum on a new Constitution that would make Malta an independent nation.
Type: consultative and non-binding.
Proposer: Maltese government (Nationalist).
Vote Yes: if you were in favour of independence.
Vote No: if you were against independence.
Turnout: 79.7 per cent.
Who won? The Yes vote won by 54.5 per cent.
1973: The Gozo Civic Council referendum
What was it about: only voters registered in Gozo were allowed to vote in the abolition of the Gozo Civil Council referendum and, to date, it is the only non-national referendum to have been held in Malta. The then Labour Party in government favoured a more centralised administration and wanted to do away with the council.
Type: consultative and non-binding.
Proposer: Maltese government (Labour).
Vote Yes: if you want abolition of the council.
Vote no: if you wanted the council to stay.
Turnout: 1.25 per cent
Who won? The Yes vote won 76.97 per cent
NB. Despite the exceptionally low turnout, the government abolished the Gozo Civic Council and Gozo affairs were centralised.
2003: EU referendum
What was it about: the Maltese were asked whether they wanted Malta to become a member of the European Union.
Type: consultative and non-binding.
Proposer: Maltese government (Nationalist).
Vote Yes: if you were for joining EU.
Vote No: if you wanted Malta to stay out.
Turnout: 90.9 per cent.
Who won? The Yes lobby won by 53.6 per cent.
NB. The 2003 general election confirmed the result of the referendum and Malta joined the EU in 2004.
2011: Divorce referendum
What was it about: the Maltese were asked whether they wanted the introduction of divorce for married couples who have been separated for four years.
Type: consultative and non-binding.
Proposer: pro-divorce lobby, spearheaded by Labour MP Evarist Bartolo together and the then Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando.
Vote Yes: if you were in favour of divorce.
Vote No: if you were against divorce.
Who won? The Yes lobby won by 52.67 per cent.
Turnout: 72 per cent.