64% of Dutch voters say no to ratifying EU-Ukraine deal – exit poll

The vast majority of Dutch people who went to the polls in the Netherlands on Wednesday to express their opinion on the proposed association agreement between the EU and Kiev have rejected it, an exit poll has shown.

Sixty-four percent voted against the Netherlands ratifying the treaty, which would strengthen economic and political ties between the 28-nation bloc and Kiev, an exit poll conducted by the Ipsos center shows. Some 36 percent of the voters supported the move, the exit poll has shown.

If the turnout surpasses the 30 percent threshold, making the “no” vote valid, the government will reconsider ratifying the treaty, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has said, according to Reuters.

Although the minister promised that a valid “no” vote would not go ignored, he said that the government would take its time in deciding exactly how to respond to the public’s opinion.

In order for the referendum to be considered valid, at least 30 percent of the population eligible to vote must cast their ballots. The validity of Wednesday’s non-binding referendum is still unclear. While the Ipsos exit poll indicated a 29 percent turnout, a second exit poll showed a turnout of 32 percent, Reuters reported.

The margin of error for turnout is three percent, and that for the final results is five percent, TASS reported.

The Dutch voters’ decision on whether to approve the association agreement, which strengthens ties with Kiev, will be officially announced on April 12, RIA Novosti reported...
 rt
6/4/16
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• Dutch say ‘no’ to treaty with Ukraine and 32% vote- exit poll