Wiesbaden (dpa/lhe) – The Hessian state government has rejected the referendum for a traffic turning law. The draft presented is not constitutional, said Transport Minister Tarek Al-Wazir (Greens) on Wednesday in Wiesbaden. The aim of the referendum was a traffic turning law that would make mobility in Hesse climate-neutral and socially just by 2030. Cycle paths, footpaths and, above all, buses and trains should be greatly expanded.
The state government has examined the draft and also consulted a law firm, the Greens politician reported. The lawyers came to the conclusion that the draft goes beyond the competence of the state and that the legislative competence of the federal government is affected by interventions in the road traffic regulations and the railway infrastructure. In addition, the draft uses vague legal terms that violate the rule of law.
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 the transport minister, beyond the legal discussion, the substantive discussion with the shop stewards of the referendum started last week. Al-Wazir said those talks would continue to explore the possibility of agreeing on a draft law that would conform to the constitution.
