Swiss democracy at Federal and Cantonal level

Examples right now of Swiss democracy at Federal and Cantonal level.

Here are my brief translations of the three Federal referendums taking place tomorrow in Switzerland, and also a Cantonal one for the people of the Canton of Vaud.

On Sunday, 29 November 2009, the Swiss people will be voting on these referendums:

1. Special financing for air traffic projects
Currently, the tax revenue on the fuels used in aviation benefits both the general funds of the Confederation and the road transport fund. The Federal Council and the Parliament propose to modify article 86 of the Constitution so that these receipts can from now on benefit both the general funds of the Confederation and the aviation transport fund.

Do you accept the federal decree of October 3, 2008 on the creation of special financing for air traffic projects?

The Federal council and the Parliament recommend you vote yes to this question.

The National council adopted the project by 124 votes against 63 with 4 abstentions, and the Council of the States by 33 votes against 7 with 3 abstentions.

2. Popular Initiative «For prohibiting the export of weapons»
This initiative aims to prohibit the export of weapons and requests that the Confederation encourages international efforts in favour of disarmament and for the control of armaments. The Federal council and the Parliament reject this initiative.

Do you accept the popular initiative “For prohibiting the export of weapons”?

The Federal council and the Parliament recommend you reject this initiative.

The National council rejected the initiative by 131 votes against 63 without abstention, and the Council of the States by 35 votes against 7 with 3 abstentions.

3. Popular Initiative «Against the construction of minarets»
The intention of the initiative is to prohibit the construction of minarets in Switzerland. The Federal council and the Parliament reject the initiative without putting forward any opposing project because it violates basic rights and does not solve any problem but creates new ones.

Do you accept the popular initiative “Against the construction of minarets”?

The Federal council and the Parliament recommend you reject this initiative.

The National council rejected the initiative by 132 votes against 51 with 11 abstentions, and the Council of the States by 39 votes against 3 with 2 abstentions.



On Sunday, 29 November 2009 the people of the Swiss Canton of Vaud will also be voting on this Cantonal referendum topic:

Advance notice from the Canton of Vaud regarding the request made by the BKW FMB Energie SA Company to remove the limiting date on the use of the nuclear power station at Mühleberg.

Are you in favour of removing the date limit or against?

Background:

This relates to the fact that the Canton of Vaud receives 25% of its electricity supplies from nuclear power, much of it from that site which was first commissioned in 1972. This nuclear power station is subject to date limits for its exploitation, the latest being 31 December 2012. In 2005, the energy company running that power station formally asked the Swiss Federal authorities to lift that date limit, basing its request on similar successful requests for three other nuclear power stations.

The Cantons of Neuchâtel and Fribourg have already voted “No”. The Canton of Soleure proposes extending the date-limit to 2025, and the Canton of Berne has said that the power station can continue in operation whilst it remains both profitable and safe, but that it should eventually be replaced by a new power station.

According to a paragraph in Article 83 of the Constitution of the Canton of Vaud, any advance notice about the usage of nuclear material must be put to the electorate of the Canton. Given that this constitutional requirement extends to the question of the date-limitation on the Mühleberg facility the people of the Canton of Vaud are being asked to give their decision on this matter and this will then be the official response of the Canton to the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy, and Communications (DETEC). However, these responses from the Cantons are not binding upon DETEC which has to take the final decision.

Article 56 of the Constitution of the Canton of Vaud specifically includes a paragraph favouring the phasing out of nuclear energy. And this is the basis upon which the Grand Council of the Canton of Vaud, on 8 September 2009, passed a resolution by 69 to 64 votes, with 3 abstentions, to recommend to the people of the Canton to reject the request from the energy company for the date-limitation to be lifted, when they vote on this referendum on Sunday, 29 November.

A brochure setting out the background and explaining the Grand Council’s decision is on the web-site and will have been sent out to all the electors of the Canton. Also, the opinions of the political parties are given: with the two left-wing parties and the Greens supporting the “No” position; and the Radicals, Centre Democrats, and Liberals supporting the “Yes” position.


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