Wiesbaden (dpa/lhe) – Representatives of the referendum on traffic change in Hesse are opposing a decision by the state government to reject the legislative initiative for constitutional reasons. The three confidants had lodged a complaint with the state returning officer, those responsible said on Thursday in Wiesbaden. When asked by dpa, the deputy state returning officer, Jonas Fischer, said the matter would now be forwarded to the state court, which is responsible for the substantive procedure.
The aim of the referendum was a traffic turning law with which mobility in Hesse should be made climate-neutral and socially just by 2030. Cycle paths, footpaths and, above all, buses and trains should be greatly expanded.
Transport Minister Tarek Al-Wazir (Greens) justified the state government’s decision, among other things, by saying that the draft goes beyond the state’s competence. In addition, vague legal terms are used.
The initiators of the referendum had previously submitted more than the required number of signatures to the state returning officer, at least 43,728. According to them, more than 70,000 voters had signed the referendum.
“The points listed in the legal opinion, which led to the formal rejection of our legislative proposal, are not convincing,” explained spokesman Katalin Saary. “Contrary to the accusation that the law is too vague or contradictory at some point, we believe that a constitutional interpretation is possible without any problems.”
