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Popular initiatives are a popular instrument to give the Federal Council and Parliament an advantage. Anyone who manages to collect more than 100,000 signatures often points out problems or holes in the system. To date, more than 300 initiatives have been created, of which more than 200 have reached the ballot box. However, it is rarely enough for a vote to be successful in the eyes of the people and the cantons, and most initiatives are rejected.
But so far, at least 25 referendums have found favor with voters at the ballot box. A new referendum on Sunday could raise the threshold with the initiative for a 13th AHV pension. But it comes close: in the second SRH trend survey, 53 percent of respondents said yes, 43 percent were against. This could also mean that the number of stands could become a bottleneck.
So far, 25 initiatives have made it
Blick shows which initiatives have been included in the federal constitution so far:
Ban on tobacco advertising: With 56.6 percent yes, the popular initiative for a ban on tobacco advertising will be successful at the ballot box in February 2022. The initiative calls for a complete ban on tobacco advertising that reaches children and young people. The implementation is currently being discussed in parliament.
Care initiative: 61 percent yes – on voting Sunday in November 2021 there was a clear result for the healthcare initiative. It also received approval in all cantons. This is the first time that a popular trade union initiative has reached the ballot box. She advocates the training of more nursing staff and better working conditions. The Federal Council has already presented a roadmap for implementation.
Prohibition on covering: In the end it was surprisingly close. In March 2021, 51.2 percent of voters said yes to the burqa initiative, which calls for a comprehensive ban on public reporting. There are exceptions for medical or climatic reasons, but also because of customs. Consultations on a law to implement this law continued until early February, and it provides for many exceptions.
Professional ban for pedophiles: On May 18, 2014, a clear majority of 63.5 percent said yes to the pedo initiative. Anyone convicted of sexual acts with children may never work with minors again for the rest of their lives.
Mass Immigration Initiative: It was a great success for the SVP. Your immigration initiative passed on February 9, 2014 with a 50.3 percent yes vote. To control immigration, the initiative requires annual caps, quotas and priority for nationals in the labor market. However, it is only half-heartedly implemented, with a slight preference for nationals when looking for a job.
Rip off initiative: On March 3, 2013, 68.0 percent said yes. The initiative wanted stronger shareholder rights and less fraud in the executive suites. However, the implementation still leaves some loopholes open. The initiative paved the way for initiator Thomas Minder (63, SH) to the Council of States.
Second house initiative: On March 11, 2012, the environmental protection camp rejoiced. Voters accepted the second house initiative with 50.6 percent yes votes. A maximum of 20 percent of all residential units in a community may be used as a second home. But Parliament has introduced exception after exception into the law.
Deportation Initiative: The SVP cheered. On November 28, 2010, voters said yes by 52.3 percent. Foreign criminals should be automatically deported. Parliament has significantly expanded the catalog of offenses but has introduced a hardship regime that essentially contradicts the automatic system. However, voters said no to the enforcement initiative, with which the SVP wanted to make its demands even stricter.
Minaret Initiative: The Egerkinger committee around former SVP Councilor Walter Wobmann (66, SO) was not only successful with the burqa initiative, but also with the minaret initiative, which was voted yes on November 29, 2009 by 57.5 percent. was approved. The demand: “The construction of minarets is prohibited.” Since this yes, the constitutional text is directly applicable.
Non-statutory limitation initiative: It was the first initiative aimed against pedophiles and was adopted on November 30, 2008 with a 51.9 percent yes vote. Sexual and pornographic crimes “against children before puberty” should not be subject to a statute of limitations. Parliament has set the age limit at twelve years. Certain exceptions apply to minor crimes.
GMO-free Agriculture: On November 27, 2005, 55.7 percent said yes to the GMO-free initiative. The request called for a five-year moratorium on genetic engineering for agriculture. This has since been extended several times by Parliament and is still valid.
Preservation initiative: With 56.2 percent voting yes on February 8, 2004, the guardianship initiative was well received. Untreatable, extremely dangerous sexual and violent offenders should remain behind bars for life. It would hardly be possible to lift the detention. Despite definitional problems, the core of the initiative was implemented, but with more lenient provisions for the lifting of lifelong detention. However, such a statement is rarely made in practice.
Accession to the UN: On March 3, 2002, the people voted yes to joining the UN by 54.6 percent. A few months after the plebiscite, Switzerland became the 190th country to be admitted to the UN.
Alpine initiative: On February 20, 1994, Landamman from Uri danced with joy. Voters said yes to the Alpine Initiative by 51.9 percent. The aim is to transport goods by rail across the Alps from border to border, and no more new transit roads will be built. As a compromise, 650,000 truck journeys per year have been set, but it is still more than 800,000. Nevertheless, voters later said yes to a second metro on the Gotthard.
August 1 Initiative: On September 26, 1993, voters approved August 1 as a non-working federal holiday throughout Switzerland, with 83.8 percent in favor. He has been that way since 1994.
Moratorium on nuclear power plants: The nuclear phase-out is now a done deal. Voters cleared the way for this on September 23, 1990, when 54.5 percent voted yes to the moratorium on nuclear power plants. The initiative banned the granting of “framework, construction, commissioning or operating permits” for new nuclear power plants for ten years.
Rothenthurm initiative: On December 6, 1987, the first environmental protection initiative was passed with a 57.8 percent yes vote. “Heathlands and heathland landscapes of special beauty and national importance are objects of protection,” the initiative demanded, and this is also stated in the law today. Most heathlands are protected by cantonal legislation, but many are seriously threatened (e.g. by desiccation).
Price monitoring initiative: On November 28, 1982, the price monitoring initiative received 56.1 percent popular support. To prevent unlawful pricing, the federal government must monitor prices for goods and services from companies and organizations with market power and, if necessary, reduce prices. This is what the price monitor does, although in the eyes of many it should have more extensive powers.
Back to direct Democracy: Shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War, the Federal Council and Parliament were given certain powers and urgency. After the war, only an initiative could bring back this regime and regulate the emergency law in a directly democratic manner. On September 11, 1949, the electorate narrowly said yes to this initiative with 50.7 percent.
Kursaal initiative: On December 2, 1928, the electorate said yes to the Kursaal initiative with 51.9 percent. After a successful initiative to ban casinos in 1920, spas in tourist regions had to close their doors in 1925. The Kursaal Initiative has lifted this ban.
State treaty referendum: On January 30, 1921, the people approved, with 71.4 percent of the votes in favor, an initiative that made permanent or long-term state treaties with foreign countries subject to an optional referendum. In principle, the arrangement still applies today.
Casino ban: On March 21, 1920, an initiative calling for a total ban on casinos, including in classrooms, was passed with a 55.3 percent yes vote. On March 21, 1925 they had to close their doors. The decision was later reversed by the people.
Proportionality initiative: On October 13, 1918, the proportional representation initiative was passed on the third attempt with 66.8 percent yes votes. The following year, the National Council was proportionally re-elected – to this day.
Absinthe ban: On July 5, 1908, voters decided to ban the ‘green fee’, with a vote of 63.5 percent. This lasted for decades – until it was scrapped by the people with the new Federal Constitution of 1999.
Ban on slaughter: The first ever popular initiative called for a “ban on slaughter without prior stunning”. The electorate voted yes on August 20, 1893, with 60.1 percent. The arrangement still applies today through the Animal Protection Act.
Source:Blick
I am Liam Livingstone and I work in a news website. My main job is to write articles for the 24 Instant News. My specialty is covering politics and current affairs, which I’m passionate about. I have worked in this field for more than 5 years now and it’s been an amazing journey. With each passing day, my knowledge increases as well as my experience of the world we live in today.
