Dutch senators vote to end referendum law

THE HAGUE: Dutch senators narrowly approved plans to scrap a controversial referendum law on Tuesday, clearing the final hurdle to ending a practice which saw voters reject a key EU-Ukraine pact two years ago.

"Forty senators voted in favour and 35 against the proposal to overturn the legislation about an advisory referendum," the Dutch upper house said in a statement. The Senate vote is the final step towards abolishing a 2015 law on non-binding consultative referendums, with the process set in motion in October by Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s new four-party coalition.