Petržalka referendum declared invalid due to low turnout

A local referendum held in the Petržalka district of Bratislava has been declared legally invalid because voter turnout reached only 26.55 percent, falling short of the required 32.2 percent threshold.

Despite the lack of legal validity, more than 25,000 residents participated, expressing strong consensus on four key issues. In all categories, over 90 percent of voters supported the proposed options. These included opposing the division of the district into multiple parking zones, establishing rights for free access to the Veľký Draždiak lake, ensuring a fairer distribution of finances from the capital city, and requiring a minimum 50-meter buffer zone between new construction and existing buildings along the Central Axis.

District officials, including spokesperson Mária Halašková and Mayor Ján Hrčkapovič, stated that the high level of agreement serves as a clear mandate and a commitment for future negotiations with the city of Bratislava and developers.