Wednesday’s referendum to choose a new mayor for Eindhoven failed to attract the required 30% of voters, making the vote non-binding, city officials said.

Only 24.6% of the population turned out to vote between the two Labour candidates, Rob van Gijzel and Leen Verbeek. Van Gijzel won some 68% of the votes.
The Eindhoven vote was the second time a referendum to elect a mayor has been held. The previous vote in Utrecht was also between two Labour candidates and also failed to generate enough interest.
Home affairs minister Guusje ter Horst said on Wednesday evening that she would like to see an end to mayoral votes, a position supported by a majority of MPs.