The Dutch government’s most senior advisory body has warned that the increased use of referendums could undermine democracy.

The Council of State says in its annual report that the ill-thought out introduction of referendums and other forms of ‘direct people’s democracy’ will at some point undermine the principle of representative democracy and the rule of law.

Politicians who organise referendums are giving rise to too-high expectations among voters, because they have less weight than people assume, the advisory body says.

Last year, a majority of people voted against the EU’s treaty with Ukraine in a referendum which is, nevertheless, about to be passed by the upper house of parliament, the Volkskrant points out.

Other referendums in the pipeline include one of the EU trade deal with Canada.

Under Dutch referendum law, the result of the vote is advisory and at least 30% of the electorate must vote for it to have any weight in law.