On 7 March 2021, a vote to ban face covering was accepted by 51.2% of Swiss voters. The proposal achieved majorities in 20 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons. Only in the cantons of Graubunden, a canton with a large tourism sector, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Bern, and the urban cantons of Basel-City, Geneva, Zurich did a majority of voters reject the ban […]
Swiss vote in favour of face covering ban and Indonesian trade deal but not e-ID – 7 Mar 2021
Today, Swiss voters voted on whether to ban face covering, whether to accept a government plan for issuing electronic IDs and whether to accept a trade deal with Indonesia that some argue does too little to protect tropical forests. Both the votes on banning face covering and accepting the trade deal with Indonesia were accepted by 51.2% and 51.7% of voters respectively. […]
Swiss to vote on electronic IDs
On 7 March 2021, Swiss will vote on whether to accept laws to allow the issuance of electronic IDs. Switzerland’s government has come up with a plan to improve online identification via an e-ID. The aim is to create a secure reliable form of electronic ID that can be used online. To this end it […]
Swiss to vote on face covering ban
On 7 March 2021, Swiss voters will vote on whether to ban face coverings in public. Discussions on the ban are typically focused on the burka. However, the burka is a specific blue face and body covering found mainly in Afghanistan, which is not seen in Switzerland. The term burqa is sometimes conflated with niqab […]
Swiss to vote on trade deal with Indonesia
On 7 March 2021, Swiss voters will vote on whether to accept a new trade deal with Indonesia. The deal agreed by the Swiss and Indonesian governments aims to improve trade with South East Asia’s largest economy by cutting tariffs in both directions. However, the deal has opponents who have successfully called a referendum against […]
Swiss federal government rejects vote to ban burqas
On 7 March 2021, Swiss voters will vote on a federal ban on covering faces in public, a referendum focused on women wearing burqas and niqabs. The Egerkingen initiative aims to ban face coverings in public and to protect the free will of women to leave their faces uncovered. The proposal makes exceptions, such as […]
Swiss referendum launched against same sex marriage
In early December 2020, the Council of States, Switzerland’s upper house voted in favour of same sex marriage, finalising a government decision to change Switzerland’s laws to allow marriage equality for all. Since then those opposed to the idea have been busy. The proposed referendum is entitled: Yes to marriage and family, no to marriage […]
Swiss voters reject ban on financing weapons
Today, Swiss voters voted on whether to make it illegal to finance any form of weapons production or invest in any company making weapons. With 57.45% of voters opposed to the ban and 42.55% in favour of it, the margin was convincing. Polls just before the vote suggested only 41% would vote in favour of the plan. […]
Swiss voters narrowly in favour of law making Swiss companies liable for violations abroad
Today, Swiss voters voted on whether Swiss companies should be legally liable for the human rights and environmental damage caused by their own activities or any companies that supply or work with them. With 50.73% of voters in favour of the new law and 49.27% against it, the margin was narrow. Polls just before the vote suggested […]
Swiss referendum: ban on financing weapons
On 29 of November 2020, Swiss voters will vote on whether to ban the financing of weapons makers. As are many nations, Switzerland is involved in the arms industry. Swiss companies produce weapons and parts for weapons, while Swiss investors finance weapons manufacturers both in Switzerland and abroad. In Switzerland, weapons manufacture is subject to […]
