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Malta's spring hunting referendum results sees victory for hunters

Xinhua, April 13, 2015 Adjust font size:

The "Yes" camp has won a narrow victory in Malta's abrogative referendum on spring hunting held last Saturday by a mere 2,200 votes, or 50.4 percent of the valid votes cast, according to Malta's electoral commission.

Surveys conducted during the campaign consistently put the "No" camp ahead. However, the "Yes" camp picked up the pace in the voting due to a strong showing of pro-hunters in Gozo, Malta's second largest island.

Malta's first-ever abrogative referendum attracted a 75-percent voter turnout at Saturday's election. It was also Malta's seventh referendum in the past 145 years.

In the referendum, voters were asked: "Do you agree that the provisions of the 'Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening a Spring Hunting Season for Turtle Dove and Quail Regulations' should continue in force?"

The result means the spring hunting season, which kills thousands of migrant birds every year, will open on Tuesday as scheduled. Endit