Slovenes hold referendum on communist-era files

http://www.adn.com/2014/06/08/3507156/slovenes-hold-referendum-on-communist.html?sp=/99/171/

Slovenes hold referendum on communist-era files
The Associated Press
June 8, 2014 Updated 17 minutes ago

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — Slovenia is holding a referendum to decide whether sensitive personal information like sexual or religious orientation in communist-era state security files should be open to the public.

The small Balkan country's ruling coalition wants to restrict access to such data as a matter of privacy and human rights.

Sunday's vote has been pushed by the opposition Slovene Democratic Party. It argues that extracting such data would be time-consuming and could thwart historical research in state archives.

The referendum centers on a parliamentary bill amendment. Under Slovenian law, one-fifth of the country's 1.7 voters must vote for the opposition bid for it to succeed — meaning that turnout will matter.