2022 Swiss referendums

Last updated

Federal referendums were held in Switzerland on 13 February, 15 May and 25 September 2022. [1] Swiss referendums take three forms: popular initiatives, which are citizen proposals to create a new law and require 100,000 valid signatures on a petition to get on the ballot; facultative or optional referendums, which are citizen proposals to approve or reject a piece of existing law and require 50,000 valid signatures on a petition to get on the ballot; and mandatory referendums, which are required to revise the constitution, join an international organization or introduce emergency federal legislation for over a year. [2] [3]

Contents

Billboards displaying posters representing stances for the referendums on stamp duty and media. Geneva February 2022 Referenda Posters.jpg
Billboards displaying posters representing stances for the referendums on stamp duty and media.

February referendums

Four referendums were held on 13 February, including two popular initiatives; "Yes to the ban on animal and human experiments", [4] and "Yes to protecting children and young adults from tobacco advertising". The other two were on the Amendment of the Federal Act on Stamp Duties and Federal Act on a Package of Measures to Benefit the Media. [5]

Yes to the ban on animal and human experiments

The popular initiative (Ja zum Tier und Menschenversuchsverbot) proposed prohibiting experiments on living creatures, including both humans and animals. The initiative also proposed banning the import of products developed abroad using animal testing, and required non-animal research receive at least the same level of government support as animal-based research. [6]

Proponents argued that animal testing is unnecessary, unethical, and scientifically unreliable, that the living conditions of animals used in experiments are usually inhumane, and that the current "3R" system in place has been insufficient in preventing unnecessary cruelty. [7]

The ban was proposed by the Tierversuchsverbots-Initiative Initiativkomitee, which consists of Dr. Renato Werndli, trained biologist Irene Varga, environmental physicist Simon Kälin-Werth, naturopath Luzia Osterwalder, as well as Andreas Graf, Susi Kreis, and Cristina Clemente. The proposal was supported by over 80 organizations, including CIVIS-Schweitz and other animal welfare groups, as well as doctors, scientists, and local businesses. [8]

The Federal Council opposed the initiative, claiming that existing regulations were restrictive enough to prevent cruelty, and that a ban on animal experiments would disadvantage Switzerland by preventing the development of new medical therapies and endangering jobs.

The Swiss National Science Foundation, swissuniversities, and the Swiss Academy of Medical Science expressed opposition to the referendum, arguing that it would "have extreme and damaging consequences for research, healthcare treatment, competitiveness and...innovation potential". [9]

All eleven major parties opposed the move, with opinion polls suggesting 80% of the electorate were opposed. [10]

Yes to protecting children and young adults from tobacco advertising

The initiative (Ja zum Schutz der Kinder und Jugendlichen vor Tabakwerbung) proposed banning advertising tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, on platforms accessible to children, including print newspapers, magazines, public posters, the internet, in cinemas, kiosks or public events. Ads directed at adults and located in places that minors cannot access would still be permitted. [11]

The Federal Council and Parliament opposed this measure as over-broad and economically restrictive, and countered the initiative with the new Tobacco Products Act (Tabakproduktegesetz), which banned advertising tobacco products and e-cigarettes on billboards and in cinemas, and forbids tobacco companies from giving away free cigarettes or sponsoring international events in Switzerland. The Tobacco Products Act may be enacted regardless of the outcome of the vote on the popular initiative. [12]

The political parties in support included the Green Liberal Party, [13] the Evangelical People's Party, [14] the Federal Democratic Union, [15] Green Party, [16] and the Social Democratic Party. [17]

The Centre (Die Mitte) opposed the initiative, [18] though The Center-Women (Die Mitte-Frauen) and 9 cantonal Die Mitte sections support it.

Opposing parties included FDP.The Liberals and the Swiss People's Party. [19] [20]

Amendment of the Federal Act on Stamp Duties

The Amendment of the Federal Act on Stamp Duties was a proposal to abolish the Issuance Tax (Emissionsabgabe), a 1% tax on capital paid by companies on new equity capital. The tax is only levied on amounts over one million Swiss francs, and as a rule, small companies do not pay it; the tax revenue comes primarily from medium-sized and large companies.

The passage of the amendment would allow companies to raise new equity without paying taxes on it. Proponents claimed that the amendment would have a positive effect on Switzerland's attractiveness as a location, and would generate growth and jobs. [21]

Opponents of the amendment argued that the abolition of the tax would reduce income for the federal government by an estimated CHF 250 million per year. According to the opponent Committee, large international corporations, banks and insurance companies would benefit from the abolition of the Issuance Tax, while citizens would gain nothing from it; on the contrary, they would have to pay higher taxes or accept a reduction in state services. [21]

Parties in favor of the amendment were the Swiss People's Party, [22] and the FDP.The Liberals, [23] the Green Liberal Party, [13] and The Centre (Die Mitte). [18]

Parties that opposed the amendment include the Federal Democratic Union, [15] the Green Party, [16] the Evangelical People's Party, [24] and the Social Democratic Party. [17]

Federal Act on a Package of Measures to Benefit the Media

The Federal Act on a Package of Measures to Benefit the Media (Bundesgesetz über ein Massnahmenpaket zugunsten der Medien) proposed extending the federal government's existing subsidy on the delivery of subscription newspapers to newspapers with a larger circulation, early-morning deliveries, online media, local radio stations, and regional television. Support would be provided on condition that media outlets concerned primarily address a Swiss audience and deal with a range of political, business and social topics. The measures would be financed by revenues from the existing radio and television tax, and from the federal budget. In the case of newspapers and online media, support would be provided for a period of seven years. [25]

The committee in opposition argued that the law would waste public money to benefit wealthy publishers. The committee was also wary to make all media into state media, and argued in favor of independent media. [25]

Results

QuestionForAgainstInvalid/
blank		Total
votes		Registered
voters		TurnoutOutcome
Votes%CantonsVotes%Cantons
Ban on animal and human experiments499,48520.8601,895,06179.1420+6⁄250,8242,445,3705,532,52044.20Rejected
Limiting tobacco advertising1,371,17756.6514+2⁄21,049,10743.356+4⁄227,3682,447,65244.24Approved
Stamp duties act amendment883,25137.37–1,480,16562.63–72,4522,435,86844.03Rejected
Measures to benefit the media1,084,80245.42–1,303,64454.58–53,7712,442,21744.14Rejected
Source: Federal Chancellery [26]
Vote (%)
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svgYes        
%
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
Light brown x.svgNo        
Ban on animal and

human experiments

Limiting tobacco advertising
Stamp duties

act amendment

Measures to benefit

the media

May referendums

Three referendums were held on 15 May: [27] [28]

All proposals were approved.

Results

QuestionForAgainstInvalid/
blank		Total
votes		Registered
voters		TurnoutOutcome
Votes%CantonsVotes%Cantons
Amendment of the Federal Law on Film Production and Film Culture1,255,03858.4216+3⁄2893,37041.584+3⁄268,7342,217,1425,538,25240.03Approved
Amendment of the Federal Law on the Transplantation of Organs, Tissues and Cells1,319,27660.2018+4⁄2872,11939.802+2⁄238,3192,229,71440.26Approved
Adoption of the EU regulation on the European Border and Coast Guard1,523,00571.4820+6⁄2607,67328.52083,5502,214,22839.98Approved
Source: Federal Chancellery [29]
Vote (%)
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svgYes        
%
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
Light brown x.svgNo        
Amendment of the Federal Law on Film Production and Film CultureAmendment of the Federal Law on the Transplantation of Organs, Tissues and Cells
Adoption of the EU regulation

on the European Border and Coast Guard

September referendums

On 25 September four referendums were held, including one popular initiative. [30] [31]

The initiative aims at banning intensive farming, including on imported products.

Financing of retirement insurance by increasing VAT

In order to stabilise revenue for the Old-Age and Survivor's Insurance (OASI), the OASI-21 (AVS / AHV 21) plan purports to increase VAT rates from 2.5 to 2.6% (reduced rate) and from 7.7 to 8.1% (standard rate). This is a constitutional amendment subject to mandatory vote. Since both this VAT increase and uniformized retirement age are part of the same program, either one being rejected would in effect see the whole reform process fail.

Modification of the law on retirement and survivor insurance

With the aim of stabilising revenue for the State-guaranteed part of pensions, the OASI-21 (AVS / AHV 21) plan purports to apply a uniform retirement age, meaning that women would then retire at 65 (up from 64). A referendum against this change was demanded. Since both the VAT increase and uniformized retirement age are part of the same program, either one being rejected would in effect see the whole reform process fail.

Amendment to the Federal Act on Withholding Tax

The bill would exempt domestic bonds from withholding tax. It also abolishes sales tax on domestic bonds and other securities.

Results

QuestionForAgainstInvalid/
blank		Total
votes		Registered
voters		TurnoutOutcome
Votes%CantonsVotes%Cantons
Popular initiative against factory farming1,062,67437.140+1⁄21,798,96262.8620+5⁄22,861,63652.27Rejected
Federal Decree on additional financing of the AVS/AHV through an increase in VAT1,570,78555.0715+6⁄21,281,37544.935+0⁄22,852,16051.16Approved
Amendment of the Federal Act on Old-Age and Survivors' Insurance (AVS/AHV 21)1,443,07550.5712+5⁄21,410,75949.438+1⁄22,130,67852.18Approved
Amendment of the Federal Act on Withholding Tax (Strengthening the Debt Capital Market)1,316,04547.998+4⁄21,426,25752.0112+2⁄22,742,30251.70Rejected
Source: Federal Chancellery [32]


Vote (%)
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svgYes        
%
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
Light brown x.svgNo        
Popular initiative

on factory farming

Financing of retirement

insurance by increasing VAT

Modification of the law on

retirement and survivor insurance

Amendment to the Federal Act

on Withholding Tax

November referendums

The date of 27 November was reserved for possible referendums, but due to none being ready to be voted on, the Federal Chancellery decreed there would be no votes on the date. [33]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Switzerland</span> Country in Central Europe

Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located at the confluence of Western, Central and Southern Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cantons of Switzerland</span> Member states of the Swiss Confederation

The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the Swiss Confederation. The nucleus of the Swiss Confederacy in the form of the first three confederate allies used to be referred to as the Waldstätte. Two important periods in the development of the Old Swiss Confederacy are summarized by the terms Acht Orte and Dreizehn Orte.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canton of Jura</span> Canton of Switzerland

The Republic and Canton of Jura, less formally the Canton of Jura or Canton Jura, is the newest of the 26 Swiss cantons, located in the northwestern part of Switzerland. The capital is Delémont. It shares borders with the canton of Basel-Landschaft, the canton of Bern, the canton of Neuchatel, the canton of Solothurn, and the French régions of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and Grand Est.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland</span> Former Swiss political party

The Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland, also called the Christian Democratic Party, Democratic People's Party and Swiss Christian Democratic Party, PCD), was a Christian-democratic political party in Switzerland. On 1 January 2021, it merged with the Conservative Democratic Party of Switzerland (BDP/PBD) to form The Centre, which now operates at the federal level. The Christian Democratic People's Party will continue to exist at the cantonal level as individual local and regional parties determine their status.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Switzerland since 1 July 2022. Legislation to open marriage to same-sex couples passed the Swiss Parliament in December 2020. The law was challenged in a referendum on 26 September 2021 by opponents of same-sex marriage and was approved with the support of 64% of voters and a majority in all 26 cantons. The law went into force on 1 July 2022. A provision of the law permitting same-sex marriages performed abroad to be recognised in Switzerland took effect on 1 January 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islam in Switzerland</span> Overview of the role of the Islam in Switzerland

Islam in Switzerland has mostly arrived via immigration since the late 20th century. Numbering below 1% of total population in 1980, the fraction of Muslims in the population of permanent residents in Switzerland has quintupled in thirty years, estimated at just above 5% as of 2013. A majority is from Former Yugoslavia ; an additional 20% is from Turkey. This is due to the fact that in the 1960s and 1970s, Switzerland encouraged young men from Yugoslavia and Turkey to come as guest workers. Initially these young men were only planning on staying in Switzerland temporarily, however, revised Swiss immigration laws in the 1970s permitted family regrouping. Consequently, these men ended up staying in Switzerland as these new laws allowed the wives and children of these young men into the country. Since this time period, most of the Muslim immigration to Switzerland stems from asylum seekers arriving primarily from Eastern Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Switzerland–European Union relations</span> Bilateral relations

Switzerland is not a member state of the European Union (EU). It is associated with the Union through a series of bilateral treaties in which Switzerland has adopted various provisions of European Union law in order to participate in the Union's single market, without joining as a member state. All but one of Switzerland's neighbouring countries are EU member states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Switzerland</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) rights in Switzerland are progressive by European standards. Their history is one of liberalisation at an increasing pace since the 1940s, in parallel to the legal situation in Europe and the Western world more generally. Legislation providing for same-sex marriage, same-sex adoption, and IVF access was accepted by 64% of voters in a referendum on 26 September 2021, and entered into force on 1 July 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Group for a Switzerland without an army</span> Swiss anti-military advocacy group

The Group for a Switzerland without an army, is a Swiss political advocacy group founded in 1982 by 120 activists in order to abolish the Swiss army. Its roster has varied considerably; as of 2009 its website stated that it consists of about 20,000 members or supporters, consisting largely of pacifists and anti-militarists.

Ten referendums were held in Switzerland during 2008. The first two were held on 24 February on business tax reform and aircraft noise. A further three were held on 1 June on public information campaigns, naturalisation and health reform. The final five were held on 30 November on legalising cannabis, making the pension age flexible, restricting the right of appeal of associations against construction projects, amending the constitutional article on narcotics and eliminating the statute of limitations with respect to pornographic crimes against children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conservative Democratic Party of Switzerland</span> Swiss political party

The Conservative Democratic Party of Switzerland was a conservative political party in Switzerland from 2008 to 2020. After the 2019 federal election, the BDP had three members in the National Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Switzerland</span> Use of cannabis in Switzerland

Cannabis in Switzerland is illegal, though minor possession was decriminalized to a fine in 2012. Several cantons began to allow adults to cultivate and use cannabis in 2012, but this was struck down by federal courts. In 2016, four cities stated they were looking into establishing pilot cannabis clubs. The number of cannabis users in Switzerland is estimated to be around 500,000 among a population of 8 million.

Six referendums were held in Switzerland during 2010; three in March on pension funds, animal protection and a constitutional amendment, one in September on unemployment benefits, and two in November on deporting foreign criminals and introducing a canton tax.

Twelve national referendums were held in Switzerland during 2012. On 11 March voters across the country were asked five questions on employment leave, second houses, building society savings, the Fixed Book Price Agreement and gambling revenues. On 17 June there were three questions on healthcare, foreign policy and home buying. On 23 September there were three on a smoking ban, secure housing in old age and music lessons at school. A final referendum was held on 25 November on the Animal Diseases Act.

A mandatory referendum, also known as an obligatory referendum, is a referendum that is legally required to be held under specific circumstances. This is in contrast to an optional referendum, which comes from either by public or legislative request. The actions that require mandatory referendums are set by law and normally concern major governmental actions or matters of large public significance. The most commonly found example worldwide of a mandatory referendum is a required referendum to adopt or amend a national constitution, which exists in many countries.

Thirteen national referendums were held in Switzerland during 2016.

Seven national referendums were held in Switzerland during 2017. Polling took place on 12 February, 21 May and 24 September, whilst no referendum was scheduled for the November date.

Several federal referendums were held in Switzerland in 2020, with voting on 9 February, 27 September and 29 November. Voting was also planned for 17 May, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Federal referendums were held in Switzerland on 7 March, 13 June, 26 September, and 28 November 2021. Swiss referendums take three forms: popular initiatives, which are citizen proposals to create a new law and require 100,000 valid signatures on a petition to get on the ballot; facultative or optional referendums, which are citizen proposals to approve or reject a piece of existing law and require 50,000 valid signatures on a petition to get on the ballot; and mandatory referendums, which are required to revise the constitution, join an international organisation or introduce emergency federal legislation for over a year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Swiss same-sex marriage referendum</span> 26 September 2021 national referendum in Switzerland

The 2021 Swiss same-sex marriage referendum was a facultative referendum held in Switzerland on 26 September 2021 about an amendment to the Civil Code to legalise marriage between persons of the same sex, as well as adoption rights for same-sex couples and access to assisted reproductive technology for lesbian couples. The amendment was called "marriage for all" in Swiss public discourse.

References

  1. ↑ "Blanko-Abstimmungstermine". Federal Chancellery.
  2. ↑ Switzerland announces five new referendum questions, The Local (4 March 2021).
  3. ↑ Direct Democracy IDEA
  4. ↑ MacNamee, Marie Vuilleumier, Adapted from French by Terence (4 January 2022). "Switzerland to vote again on animal testing ban". SWI swissinfo.ch. Retrieved 2022-01-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ↑ "Tobacco, tax and animal testing: What's at stake in Switzerland's February referendum?". The Local Switzerland. 2022-01-17. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
  6. ↑ Bundesrat, Der. "Volksinitiative "Ja zum Tier und Menschenversuchsverbot"". www.admin.ch (in German). Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  7. ↑ Blum, Gianna (2022-01-06). "Renato Werndli ist der Kopf hinter der Tierversuchsverbots-Initiative". Blick (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  8. ↑ "Supporter/innen". Tierversuchsverbots-Initiative (in German). Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  9. ↑ Switzerland, Albadream Engineering-Software development in Lugano (2022-01-13). "Reasons for rejecting the initiative to ban animal and human experimentation in Switzerland". IRB USI. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
  10. ↑ Europe Elects
  11. ↑ Bundesrat, Der. "Abstimmung vom 13. Februar 2022". www.admin.ch (in German). Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  12. ↑ "Initiative "Kinder ohne Tabak" - Tabakwerbeverbot: Gegner sehen Eingriff in Wirtschaftsfreiheit". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (in German). 2022-01-06. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  13. 1 2 "Abstimmungen". grunliberale.ch. Archived from the original on 2022-03-03. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  14. ↑ "Die Tabakindustrie will mit ihrer Werbung gezielt beeinflussbare Jugendliche bereits früh zum Rauchen zu animieren und vom Nikotin abhängig machen. Dies muss verboten werden. - EVP Schweiz". www.evppev.ch (in German). Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  15. 1 2 Thun, Eidgenössisch-Demokratische Union (EDU), 3601. "EDU sagt 3x Nein und 1x Ja zu den Abstimmungen vom 13. Februar". www.edu-schweiz.ch (in German). Archived from the original on 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2022-01-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. 1 2 "Ja zum Schutz der Kinder und Jugendlichen vor Tabakwerbung". GRÜNE Schweiz (in German). 2021-12-17. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  17. 1 2 "Ja zum Schutz der Kinder und Jugendlichen vor Tabakwerbung". SP Schweiz (in German). Archived from the original on 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  18. 1 2 ampersand (2021-04-30). "Parolen — Die Mitte". die-mitte.ch. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  19. ↑ digitale, WNG agence. "FDP.Die Liberalen - Tabakwerbeverbots-Initiative". FDP.Die Liberalen (in German). Archived from the original on 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  20. ↑ "Stopp der Bevormundung – Nein zur Werbeverbots-Initiative". SVP Schweiz (in German). Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  21. 1 2 Bundesrat, Der. "Änderung des Bundesgesetzes über die Stempelabgaben". www.admin.ch (in German). Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  22. ↑ "Gerade in der Krise brauchen unsere KMU ein Ja zur Abschaffung der Stempelsteuer". SVP Schweiz (in German). Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  23. ↑ digitale, WNG agence. "FDP.Die Liberalen". www.fdp.ch (in German). Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  24. ↑ "Die Abschaffung der Stempelabgaben geht einher mit weiteren massiven steuerlichen Entlastungen für Unternehmen und Grosskonzerne, während dem die verfassungswidrige Besteuerung von Ehepaaren ("Heiratsstrafe") weiterhin warten soll. - EVP Schweiz". www.evppev.ch (in German). Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  25. 1 2 Bundesrat, Der. "Bundesgesetz über ein Massnahmenpaket zugunsten der Medien". www.admin.ch (in German). Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  26. ↑ "Volksabstimmung vom 13.02.2022" [Referendum on February 13, 2022] (in German). Archived from the original on 12 May 2022.
  27. ↑ Hartmann, Charlie. "The May 15. Referendums explained & the results". Livingin.swiss. Retrieved 2022-05-16.
  28. ↑ May vote poll: Swiss levy on streaming giants could fail SwissInfo, 4 May 2022
  29. ↑ "Volksabstimmung vom 15.05.2022" [Referendum on May 15th, 2022] (in German). Archived from the original on 1 September 2022.
  30. ↑ Bundeskanzlei BK. "Politische Rechte". www.bk.admin.ch (in German). Retrieved 2022-02-06.
  31. ↑ admin.ch. "25th September Votation". www.bfs.admin.ch (in French). Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  32. ↑ "Volksabstimmung vom 25.09.2022" [Referendum on September 25th, 2022] (in German). Archived from the original on 26 September 2022.
  33. ↑ Federal Chancellery. "No "Votations" on 27th of November". bk.admin.ch (in French). Retrieved 2022-08-20.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.