Luxemburgers have rejected, by referendums, key changes to their voting rules.<br /><br /> The Grand Duchy said no to allowing foreign residents to vote in their national elections, a move that would have been a first in Europe and could have increased the numbers of voters by as much as 50 percent.<br /><br /> In Sunday’s consultative referendum, only about 22 percent supported the proposal, <br /><br /> There was also clear opposition to lowing the voting age from 16 to 18 and introducing 10 year term limits for ministers.<br /><br /> Almost half of Luxembourg’s 550,000 residents are foreign and some 150,000 commute daily from neighbouring France, Germany and Belgium.<br /><br /> The Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, had called for a yes to all three questions as part of his modernisation agenda.<br /><br /> The 42-year-old premier said he accepted the three firm ‘No’ responses and would withdraw the government’s proposals.
