Constituent Assembly of Valais

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The Constituent Assembly of the Canton of Valais (German: Verfassungsrat des Kantons Wallis) is a body elected on 25 November 2018 to draft a new constitution for the canton of Valais.

Contents

After four years of work, the draft constitution was submitted to a popular vote on 3 March 2024 and was rejected by over 68% of voters.

Background

Necessity of reform

At the beginning of the 2010s, the Constitution of the canton of Valais, dating from 1907, [1] was considered outdated. The Federal Tribunal found that the allocation of seats by proportional representation according to districts violated fundamental political rights. [2] [N 1] In response, the Council of State  [ fr ], following the recommendations of a working group, [3] initiated a constitutional reform of political institutions known as R21. This reform aimed to adapt the electoral system and redefine institutional structures. [4] Although approved by popular vote, the reform could not be enacted due to a high number of blank ballots. [5] As a result, the government implemented by decree the provisions related to the election of the Grand Council ( bi-proportional system) to ensure compliance with political rights for the 2017  [ fr ] and 2021 elections. [N 2]

Referendum and election of the Constituent Assembly

In March 2015, a nonpartisan committee launched a signature drive for a popular initiative calling for a total revision of the cantonal Constitution. [6] On July 27, 2016, the committee submitted 7,895 valid signatures, exceeding the required 6,000, to the Cantonal Chancellery. [7] This initiated the process of constitutional revision, making Valais the first canton to begin such a process through a popular initiative rather than through existing institutions. [3]

Under the Constitution, [8] the proposal for a total revision was submitted to a popular vote. Voters were asked whether to approve the principle of a complete revision and whether it should be carried out by the Grand Council or a Constituent Assembly. The Swiss People's Party (UDC) [9] opposed the total revision and, if necessary, supported its implementation by the Grand Council. The Christian Democratic People's Party (PDC) [10] supported the revision but opposed the creation of a Constituent Assembly. The FDP, Socialist Party, Greens, Christian Social Party (PCS), and the Council of State supported a revision by a Constituent Assembly. [11] The vote took place on March 4, 2018: over 72% of voters approved a total revision, and 61% supported the creation of a Constituent Assembly. [12] The Council of State then organized the elections, following the same procedure as for the Grand Council.

Despite initial attempts to form a unified list, [3] each party ultimately submitted its own list under different names. A nonpartisan group, Appel Citoyen (Citizen Appeal), presented "citizen" lists, with candidates selected through an algorithm [13] aimed at ensuring gender parity and regional representation, following an initial online vote. All traditional parties included political newcomers on their lists, in line with their campaign commitments. [3] A total of 645 candidates [14] ran for 130 seats across nearly all districts. [N 3]

The campaign focused on institutional reform, the redrawing of regional and district boundaries, the relationship between Church and State—particularly the preamble phrase "In the name of Almighty God!" [15] —and the status of the Upper Valaisan linguistic minority. [16] In the election held on November 25, 2018, the nonpartisan group Appel Citoyen secured 16 seats, [17] reducing the share of traditional parties. Voter turnout was 48%. [18]

Establishment and beginning of work

The inaugural session was held on December 17, 2018, in the chamber of the Valais Grand Council. [19] Former judge Jean Zermatten was elected president of the provisional bureau, tasked with preparing the assembly's regulations. [20]

In April, the assembly adopted its rules of procedure and elected a general-secretary. At the plenary session of June 5, 2019, it elected the presidential board, with a rotating annual presidency, and established thematic commissions. [21] On October 3, the Constituent Assembly held a session in Visp, where it adopted a communication and citizen participation plan, [22] including citizen workshops and a digital proposal platform. [23] The total budget was estimated at over six million francs, with more than one million allocated for the first year. [24] On December 3, during a plenary session in Monthey, the assembly elected two new members to the presidential board, reviewed the citizen workshops, and held discussions with former members of other cantonal constituent assemblies. [25] By the end of the year, five members had resigned (three from the UDC, one from the PDC, and one from the VLR), [26] and one member had died. [27]

Review of the principles

In spring 2020, the thematic commissions published their working reports for examination by the Assembly in plenary session. [28] Proposals included the right to vote at age 16 and for foreigners, a cantonal minimum wage, and a fundamental right to digital anonymity. [29] Two sessions per month were scheduled for April, May, and June 2020, but were postponed by the Bureau due to the coronavirus pandemic. [30]

The first session was held on September 3 and 4 in Brig. The plenary Assembly deliberated on the principles and the overall direction of the work. The proposals of Commission 1, which largely maintained the status quo, were accepted. The fundamental rights proposed by Commission 2 were deemed unrealistic and were entirely replaced by a motion. [31]

Final text

On April 25, 2023, the Constituent Assembly adopted the final text by 87 votes to 40. [32] An alternative version, retaining the overall text but excluding political rights at the municipal level for individuals of foreign nationality, was also approved by a vote of 87 to 29, with 7 abstentions. [33] On May 17, 2023, the draft Constitution was submitted to the Council of State  [ fr ] by members of the Presidential College. [34]

The Valais Council of State scheduled the referendum for March 3, 2024. [35]

Composition

The Constituent Assembly comprised the same number of deputies and the same geographical distribution as the Valais Grand Council, but did not include substitute deputies. The "difference" column indicates the variation in seats compared to the 2017 Grand Council legislature  [ fr ]. Out of 217,950 registered voters, 106,590 participated, resulting in a turnout of 48.9%. [18]

To reflect openness to candidates without prior political experience, parties modified the names of their lists. The table reflects the alliances between the German-speaking lists from Upper Valais and the French-speaking lists from Lower Valais. [36]

Leadership

Two bodies lead the Constituent Assembly:

Commissions

The deputies are divided into ten thematic commissions of 13 members each, tasked with addressing the various components of the future constitution: [40]

  1. General provisions, social cohesion, preamble, Church/State relations, and final provisions
  2. Fundamental rights, social rights, and civil society
  3. Political rights
  4. Tasks of the State I: Principles, finance, and economic development
  5. Tasks of the State II: Spatial planning and natural resources
  6. Tasks of the State III: Social tasks and other state responsibilities
  7. Cantonal authorities I – General provisions and Grand Council
  8. Cantonal authorities II – Council of State, administration, and prefects
  9. Cantonal authorities III – Judiciary
  10. Municipalities and territorial organization

There are also three institutional commissions:

  1. The Coordination Commission, composed of the presidents of the College and the thematic commissions, ensures the coherence of the work. [41]
  2. The Citizen Participation Commission, responsible for involving civil society in the drafting process. [42]
  3. The Drafting Commission, which checks the substance and form of the project. [43]

Outcome

The decree establishing the Constituent Assembly was repealed on February 5, 2025, without a final dissolution session. [44] As a result, the Assembly was never formally dissolved. [45]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Some electoral districts have too few seats, and thus a naturally high quorum, making equitable representation of the various political forces difficult.
  2. ↑ A system of grouping by district results in some voters not directly voting for their representatives.
  3. ↑ With as many candidates as seats. Traditionally, parties tend to field many candidates roughly corresponding to their electoral strength.

References

  1. ↑ Constitution du Canton du Valais du 8 mars 1907 : avec les modifications survenues jusqu'au 12 avril 1970 [Constitution of the Canton of Valais of March 8, 1907: with the amendments made up to April 12, 1970](PDF) (in French). Chancellerie d'État du Canton du Valais. 1971. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Le Valais doit revoir son mode d'élection à la proportionnelle" [Valais must review its proportional election method]. Tribune de Genève (in French). 2014. ISSN   1010-2248 . Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Gabbud, Jean-Yves (October 16, 2018). "La constituante: une épopée citoyenne en Valais" [The Constituent Assembly: a civic epic in Valais]. Le Nouvelliste (in French). Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Rapport R21 : Territoire et institutions du 21e siècle en Valais" [Report R21: Territory and institutions of the 21st century in Valais] (in French). October 3, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  5. ↑ "La réforme des institutions R21 coulée par les bulletins blancs en Valais" [R21 institutional reform sunk by blank ballots in Valais]. RTS (in French). June 15, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  6. ↑ Rovere, Sandrine (August 3, 2015). "Lancement de la récolte de signatures pour une constituante" [Launch of the collection of signatures for a constituent assembly]. Rhône FM (in French). Archived from the original on March 25, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Plus de 7000 signatures pour une révision de la Constitution valaisanne" [More than 7,000 signatures for a revision of the Valais Constitution]. RTS (in French). June 24, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Constitution du Canton du Valais" [Constitution of the Canton of Valais]. SR (in French). March 8, 1907. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  9. ↑ Lambiel, Xavier (November 16, 2017). "En Valais, la résistance des conservateurs face à une Constituante" [In Valais, conservative resistance to a Constituent Assembly]. Le Temps (in French). ISSN   1423-3967 . Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  10. ↑ Carrupt, Benjamin (February 25, 2018). "Un PDC divisé refuse de dépoussiérer la Constitution" [A divided PDC refuses to dust off the Constitution]. 24 heures (in French). ISSN   1424-4039 . Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  11. ↑ "La Constitution valaisanne à l'épreuve des urnes" [The Valais Constitution put to the test at the ballot box]. Le Matin (in French). July 2, 2018. ISSN   1018-3736. Archived from the original on February 7, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  12. ↑ "La Constitution valaisanne sera révisée par une constituante" [The Valais Constitution will be revised by a constituent assembly]. RTS (in French). March 5, 2018. ISSN   1018-3736 . Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  13. ↑ Baur, Grégoire (June 12, 2018). "Des «listes idéales» pour la Constituante valaisanne" ["Ideal lists" for the Valais Constituent Assembly]. Les Temps (in French). ISSN   1423-3967 . Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  14. ↑ Crittin, Bertrand (October 1, 2018). "Valais: l'élection à la constituante sera hors normes, avec 645 candidats" [Valais: the election to the constituent assembly will be extraordinary, with 645 candidates]. Le Nouvelliste (in French). Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  15. ↑ Felley, Eric (October 30, 2018). "Constitution: Au nom du Valaisan tout puissant!" [Constitution: In the name of the all-powerful Valaisan!]. Le Matin (in French). ISSN   1018-3736. Archived from the original on October 30, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  16. ↑ Baur, Grégoire (November 12, 2018). "Les grands enjeux de la Constituante valaisanne" [The major challenges of the Valais Constituent Assembly]. Le Temps (in French). ISSN   1423-3967 . Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  17. ↑ Baur, Grégoire (November 25, 2018). "En Valais, le triomphe d'Appel Citoyen" [In Valais, the triumph of Appel Citoyen]. Le Temps (in French). ISSN   1423-3967 . Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  18. 1 2 "Election de la constituante 2018 - Résultats" [2018 Constituent Election - Results]. Canton du Valais (in French). Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  19. ↑ Gabbud, Jean-Yves (December 17, 2018). "Valais: les travaux de la constituante ont commencé" [Valais: work on the constituent assembly has begun]. Le Nouvelliste (in French).
  20. ↑ Massy, France (March 15, 2019). "Le règlement de la constituante valaisanne sera dévoilé fin avril" [The regulations of the Valais constituent assembly will be unveiled at the end of April]. Le Nouvelliste (in French). Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  21. ↑ Crittin, Bertrand (June 5, 2019). "Valais: la constituante va pouvoir se mettre au travail" [Valais: the constituent assembly will be able to get to work]. Le Nouvelliste (in French). Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  22. ↑ Guex, Pascal (October 3, 2019). "Nouvelle Constitution: l'avis de la population va compter" [New Constitution: The public's opinion will count]. Le Nouvelliste (in French). Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Le peuple valaisan va réviser sa Constitution" [The people of Valais will revise their Constitution]. Le Matin (in French). November 7, 2019. Archived from the original on November 8, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  24. ↑ Baur, Grégoire (November 1, 2019). "En Valais, une Constituante à plus de 6 millions" [In Valais, a Constituent Assembly with more than 6 million members]. Le Temps (in French). ISSN   1423-3967 . Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Communiqué – Élection de deux nouveaux membres du Collège présidentiel de la Constituante" [Press release – Election of two new members of the Presidential College of the Constituent Assembly] (in French). December 3, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  26. ↑ Gabbud, Jean-Yves (December 3, 2019). "Constituante valaisanne: une succession de démissions qui interpelle" [Valais Constituent Assembly: a series of resignations that raises questions]. Le Nouvelliste (in French). Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  27. ↑ Gabbud, Jean-Yves (August 13, 2019). "Un constituant est décédé" [A constituent has died]. Le Nouvelliste (in French). Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Communiqué – Phase d'examen des principes du printemps 2020" [Press Release – Spring 2020 Principles Review Phase] (in French). March 12, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  29. ↑ Carrupt, Romain (March 15, 2020). "Constituante valaisanne: ' Au nom de Dieu Tout-puissant! ' mais aussi pas mal de modernité" [Valais Constituent Assembly: 'In the name of Almighty God!' but also a fair amount of modernity]. Le Nouvelliste (in French). Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Note d'information : Coronavirus – décisions du Bureau de la Constituante" [Information note: Coronavirus – decisions of the Bureau of the Constituent Assembly] (in French). March 17, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  31. ↑ Cipolla, Jean-Dominique (September 15, 2020). "Les statuts du Paradis" [The Statutes of Paradise]. Le Nouvelliste (in French). Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  32. ↑ "Vote final" [Vote final]. QUI VOTE QUOI ? (in French). Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  33. ↑ "Variante: droit de vote des personnes étrangères" [Variant: voting rights of foreign persons]. QUI VOTE QUOI ? (in French). Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  34. ↑ "Le projet de Constitution cantonale a été remis au Conseil d'État" [The draft cantonal constitution has been submitted to the Council of State]. Canton du Valais (in French). April 17, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  35. ↑ "Votation cantonale sur la nouvelle Constitution - La population valaisanne se prononcera le 3 mars 2024" [Cantonal vote on the new Constitution - The Valais population will vote on March 3, 2024]. Canton du Valais (in French). August 30, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  36. ↑ "Les résultats définitifs de la Constituante par arrondissement" [The final results of the Constituent Assembly by district]. Canal 9 (in French). Archived from the original on March 25, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  37. 1 2 "Règlement de la Constituante du canton du Valais" [Regulations of the Constituent Assembly of the Canton of Valais]. SR (Article 13) (in French). June 5, 2019. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  38. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Informations sur le Collège présidentiel" [Information on the Presidential College]. Canton du Valais (in French). Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  39. ↑ "Bureau de la Constituante" [Office of the Constituent Assembly]. Canton du Valais (in French). Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  40. ↑ "Présidences et vice-présidences des commissions thématiques (1ère lecture)" [Presidencies and vice-presidencies of the thematic committees (1st reading)]. Canton du Valais (in French). Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  41. ↑ "Commission de coordination" [Coordination Commission]. Canton du Valais (in French). Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  42. ↑ "Commission de participation citoyenne" [Citizen Participation Commission]. Canton du Valais (in French). Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  43. ↑ "Commission de rédaction" [Editorial Committee]. Canton du Valais (in French). Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  44. ↑ Fournier, Noémie (February 6, 2025). "Pas de point final: la constituante valaisanne ne sera jamais dissoute officiellement" [No end point: the Valais constituent assembly will never be officially dissolved]. Le Nouvelliste (in French). Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  45. ↑ Morard, Didier (February 6, 2025). "L'abrogation officielle de la Constituante provoque une situation cocasse" [The official repeal of the Constituent Assembly causes a comical situation]. Rhône FM (in French). Retrieved August 1, 2025.

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