The vote on an affordable housing quota was rejected by 57.1% of voters. The participation rate was 41%. Only five cantons had majorities in favour of the plan: Basel-City (60.2% in favour), Geneva (60.1%), Vaud (53.2%), Jura (53.2%) and Neuchâtel (56.2%). The other 21 Swiss cantons had majorities against the plan. The government’s plan to […]
Swiss to vote on banning discrimination based on sexual orientation – 9 Feb 2020
The government decided to extend the existing legal ban on racism and religious discrimination to discrimination based on sexual orientation. Some, who see this as limit to free expression and a form of censorship, launched a referendum to stop the government’s plan. In addition, they argue hate crimes are already punishable under the law. If […]
Swiss to vote on affordable housing quota – 9 Feb 2020
Economic and population growth have increased demand for housing in Switzerland. The period leading up to 2015 saw a fall in the number of available homes in urban areas in Switzerland. Rental prices continued to rise beyond 2015 into 2016. The initiative aims to impose a rule requiring 10% of new homes to be controlled […]
Swiss federal election results 2019 – winners and losers
On 20 October 2019, Swiss voters chose members of the 200-member National Council (parliament) and 46-member Council of States (upper house). Parties winning the greatest number of seats in the National Council were the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) – 53 seats (-12), the Swiss Socialists Party (PS/SP) – 39 seats (-4) , the Liberal Radical […]
More than 1,000 elected officials in Switzerland paid by employers for political work
Most elected officials in Switzerland have full-time jobs outside politics and undertake their political work on a part time basis. According to research by RTS, more than 1,000 people across all levels of government (federal, cantonal and communal) get some sort of financial help from their employer, typically in the form of paid leave, to […]
Swiss federal elections – test your knowledge
Switzerland holds federal elections every four years. The last was on 18 October 2015 and the next is on Sunday 20 October 2019. Answers are shown below in italics at the bottom of the page. 1. How many people have a right to vote in Switzerland? 2. Which party held the largest share of parliamentary […]
The cost of democracy – what Switzerland spends on its federal government
The cost of Switzerland’s federal government, including elections and referenda, comes to CHF 233 million annually, according to a calculation by RTS. This figure can be broken down into CHF 106 million to run the Federal Assembly, made up of the 200-seat National Council (parliament) and the 46-seat Council of States (upper house), CHF 17 […]
Referendum to ban tobacco advertising in Switzerland reaches 100,000 signatures
An initiative demanding a ban on tobacco advertising has collected 109,969 valid signatures, more than the 100,000 minimum required to launch a popular vote, according to RTS. The planned vote entitled: “Yes to the protection of children and young people against tobacco advertising” demands the federal government ban all forms of tobacco advertising towards children […]
Voters in Bern narrowly reject proposed welfare cuts
A referendum aimed at cutting welfare expenses in the canton of Bern was narrowly rejected by 52.6% of voters on Sunday. The initiative, supported by a majority of the canton’s parliament aimed to reduce the canton’s welfare spending, which has risen 54% over the last 10 years despite a decline in the number receiving it. […]
Swiss vote results on gun laws and tax and pension reform – 19 May 2019
Today, Swiss voters voted on changes to gun laws and tax and pension reform initiatives. Both the votes on gun laws and tax and pension reform were accepted by 63.7% and 66.4% of voters respectively. Majorities in all cantons voted for the tax and pension reform initiative. Only in Ticino did a majority of voters reject the government’s changes to […]
