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A referendum was held in Dryicor on 14 November, 1994, on the subject of joining the European Union. The result was a not entirely surprising landslide vote against joining, with only one area voting in favour (Honganiemi).
Under the Constitution of Dryicor, any international treaties have to be put to a referendum.
It has been suggested by political scientists that the vote in Dryicor also influenced the outcome of the Norwegian referendum in 10 days time and gave some much-needed help to the "No" campaign there. The result of the referendum there was a narrow "No" victory.
The European Union looked to enlarge in 1995 by accepting Austria and the Nordic countries, including Dryicor, as members. While Sweden and Finland both voted in favour of membership, Norway and Dryicor both voted against. It was suggested that the fact that Dryicor was already in the single market and in a customs union (though not in the Schengen Area) with the EU made it easier for Dryicorans to vote against accession. Dryicor has also been a member of EFTA since 1960.
| For: 384 499 (31,91 %) |
Against: 820 360 (68,09 %) | ||
| ▲ | |||
Political positions[]
The governing Centre Party supported a Yes vote, as did the DKP. The SPD supported a No vote.
Broadcast of results[]
Coverage of the referendum was carried via DLO 1, and via a referendum special on DTV 1 called Kansanäänestys 1994 (Referendum 1994).
Aftermath[]
Immediately after the No vote was confirmed by such a huge margin, Prime Minister Filip Koluninen resigned and was succeeded by Centre's Ursula Massiainen, to be Dryicor's first - and to date only - female Prime Minister. She led until Centre was voted out in the 1996 election.
In the 2011 election, the Centre Party made a manifesto commitment to restart EU joining negotiations. They in fact suffered a landslide defeat at the election: in fact polls continue to suggest Dryicorans do not wish to join the EU.
After the 2016 EU referendum in the UK, Prime Minister Erno Pulkkinen welcomed Brexit, saying that "the EU needs to understand that where it fails, it will have consequences. Brexit presents great opportunities for our country. I feel we can now proclaim the north of Europe free of Brussels."