The Irish people have given the world another lesson in how much they value and protect their Constitution.
Earlier, Ben Q reported here on TGP on how to do this Leftists defeated in referendum to 'modernize' Irish constitution and undermine family values.
After the defeat of the two changes proposed today, at least 13 different proposals were rejected in referendums.
The vote can also be seen as a reaction by voters to the disconnect between the incumbent government and the feelings of the general population.
Changes to the Thirty-Ninth Amendment to the Constitution — the Family Amendment — were rejected by 67 percent of voters, while in the still-ongoing “welfare referendum” counting, the “no” vote was about 74 percent.
The Irish government had already conceded defeat in both referendums hours before the vote count was completed.
The Irish Times reported:
“Taoisitch [Prime Minister] Leo Varadkar said it was clear both referendums had been “comprehensively defeated”, while the Tánaiste said [deputy PM] Michel Martin said that the majority of voters “were not convinced by the arguments for changing the constitution in this way.”
The referendum failed to mobilize voters massively, with participation at the national level just exceeding 44%.
“In the referendums, the government proposed expanding the definition of family in the Constitution to recognize “permanent relationships,” such as cohabiting couples and their children, and replacing the language surrounding “women in the home” with language that recognizes care within the family.
The outcome of the two referendums on family and care is clear.
The majority was not convinced by the arguments for changing the constitution in this way.
One of the fundamental strengths of our Constitution is that the people have the final say. We fully respect their decision. (1/3)
-Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) March 9, 2024
Unity Party leader Peter Tóibín:
“Government parties operate in a bubble and do not listen to the people, which is dangerous in a democracy. Sinn Fein has also once again misjudged the mood of its supporters, and the Sinn Fein leadership appears to have alienated itself from its support base over a number of issues.
Jennifer Bray, political correspondent at The Irish Times:
“As polls opened across the country on Saturday morning, it quickly became clear that the proposed constitutional amendments on care and family matters would be defeated. The proposals were supported by all three government parties as well as Sinn Féin, most of the opposition and a range of well-known campaign groups. However, Those endorsements, though qualified in several cases, amounted to little in a campaign that failed to capture much of the public's attention.
About 1.1 million people cast a “no” vote, while 487,000 voted yes. There was no clear division between rural and urban when voters went to the polls, as is usually the case.
