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Swiss canton of Neuchâtel refuses to allow foreigners in government

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Le Matin.

On Sunday, the canton of Neuchâtel asked voters if foreigners holding C permits, with at least five years of residence, should be allowed to run for political seats in cantonal elections. The result: 54% voted “no”.

Neuchâtel Castle - cantonal seat of government - © Denis Kelly | Dreamstime.com

Neuchâtel Castle – cantonal seat of government – © Denis Kelly | Dreamstime.com

If the initiative, the first of its kind in Switzerland, had succeeded, around 23,000 foreign residents would have gained the right to be voted for at a cantonal level.

The project, put forward by a left leaning group in 2015, believes the initiative would have increased a sense of belonging, responsibility and integration. In addition, the canton’s government was behind the plan. Those opposed, such as the UDC (SVP) and PLR (FDP), took the view that this group should become Swiss citizens if they wanted to enter politics.

While a majority of the canton voted against the initiative, some districts were in favour of it. Neuchâtel city, the town of La Chaux-de-Fonds, and the village of Valangin showed majorities in favour.

Neuchâtel is one of only two cantons, including Jura, that allows established foreigners to vote in cantonal elections. Since 2001, the rules have allowed all foreigners above the age of 18, who hold c permits, and who have lived in the canton for at least five years, to vote.

In addition, Neuchâtel is among four cantons that allow the same group to vote and run for seats at a communal level. The others are Vaud, Jura and Fribourg. The canton of Geneva allows voting at a communal level, but doesn’t allow foreigners to hold office. In German-speaking Switzerland, the three cantons of Basel-City, Graubunden and Appenzell-Innerrhoden, give their communes the possibility of granting established foreigners a right to vote in communal elections.

Switzerland’s government has three layers: communal, cantonal and federal. Communes are like local councils but with some tax raising power. Cantons are like states and provide most essential services such as education, hospitals and many social services. Federal government is focused on areas such as defense, diplomacy, national infrastructure, and providing a framework within which the cantons operate.

The right to vote in most countries generally derives from citizenship with a few exceptions. For example, in the UK, in addition to UK citizens, resident Irish, and citizens of qualifying commonwealth countries on permanent residency visas, can vote at UK general elections. While citizens of other EU countries can vote at UK local and european elections.

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Read full Le Matin article (in French) - Take a 5 minute French test now

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Geneva votes to reduce tax deductions for costs of getting to work

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Today, Geneva voted on whether to cap tax deductions for the costs of getting to work. The initiative was seen as a way to increase tax revenue. 57.66% of voters were in favour of the change. A map showing the districts voting yes in green, shows a possible correlation between proximity to Geneva’s centre and the chance of voting yes.

Source: Republique et Canton de Genève

Source: République et Canton de Genève

Currently, in Geneva, those meeting certain conditions, can reduce their taxable income by the actual cost of their trips to work. The initiative that was accepted today, reduces the maximum tax-deductible amount to CHF 500, the cost of an annual TPG public transport pass for Geneva.

TPG tram in Geneva - © Hai Huy Ton That | Dreamstime.com

TPG tram in Geneva – © Hai Huy Ton That | Dreamstime.com

According to Tribune de Genève, the biggest losers will be cross-border workers, who travel further and sometimes deduct all of their travel costs. Many of those who live in Geneva, but work outside the canton, will be hit too.

The newspaper also says, the change will affect around 20% of Geneva’s residents, and bring in an additional CHF 28 million of tax.

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25 September 2016 Swiss referenda results – new surveillance powers approved

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The only vote to pass today was the Intelligence Service Act referendum, which passed with 65.5% voting “yes”. Both the vote to increase state pensions by 10% (40.6% “yes”), and the Green initiative (36.4% “yes”), failed. These results are in line with the positions held by the Swiss federal council and parliament.

The vote to increase state pensions showed a divide between the latin cantons (French and Italian-speaking), and the cantons where all or some of the population speak German. The cantons of Jura (59.5%), Neuchâtel (54%), Geneva (53.6%), Vaud (50.3%), and Ticino (53.4%) all showed a majority in favour of it.

Only one canton, Geneva where 51.9% voted “yes”, showed a majority in favour of the Green initiative.

The new intelligence laws, resulting from the Intelligence Service Act referendum, will allow Switzerland’s Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) to monitor private communications, such as those by post, internet and telephone. The government says it needs these powers to protect the country from terrorism, cyber attacks and spying. Terrorist and cyber criminals use modern telecommunications, so being able to monitor this information is vital, it says. Currently Swiss law only allows the government to access public information or that provided by other authorities. The government says there are safeguards to prevent abuse – the measures can only be used when there is a significant threat, and must be approved by several people in the government, including members of the Federal Council, or cabinet.

Those against the proposal feared it would be the beginning of a big brother state, where the government has access to everyone’s secrets and can share them with foreign agencies. Writing for Bilan, Fabrice Delaye, thinks the initiative could end up being an economic own-goal. For several years, Switzerland has pitched itself as a safe haven for the world’s data. He wonders how the initiative could affect this.

Results for the federal votes are shown in the charts below. To display the percentage results for a canton or district click on it. The charts can be switched from canton to district by clicking on the dropdown menu in the top right of each chart.

State pension plus – vote to increase pensions by 10%.

Intelligence service act vote.

Green initiative.

More on this:
For detailed results in the Canton of Vaud click here.
For detailed results in the Canton of Geneva click here.
For detailed results in the Canton of Zurich click here.

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Swiss to vote on whether to give government snooping powers

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On 25 September 2016, the Swiss electorate will vote on the Intelligence Service Act.

© Kheng Ho Toh | Dreamstime.com

© Kheng Ho Toh | Dreamstime.com

If successful, the referendum will allow Switzerland’s Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) to monitor private communications, such as those by post, internet and telephone. The government says it needs these powers to protect the country from terrorism, cyber attacks and spying. Terrorist and cyber criminals use modern telecommunications, so being able to monitor this information is vital, it says.

Currently Swiss law only allows the government to access public information or that provided by other authorities.

The government, which voted in favour of the initiative, says there are safeguards to prevent abuse. The measures can only be used when there is a significant threat, and must be approved by several people in the government, including members of the Federal Council, or cabinet.

Those against the proposal fear it will be the beginning of a big brother state, where the government has access to everyone’s secrets and can share them with foreign agencies. Many in this camp also think it is impossible to prevent all terrorist activity and it is therefore not worth trading privacy for something unachievable.

Writing for Bilan, Fabrice Delaye, thinks the initiative could end up being an economic own-goal. For several years, Switzerland has pitched itself as a safe haven for the world’s data. He wonders if this will hold true if this initiative is adopted.

Switzerland’s government seems to disagree. The National Council voted 145 in favour, 41 against, with 8 abstentions for the initiative.

The main parties, the UDC (SVP), PLR (FDP), and PDC (CVP) are in favour of the initiative, while the Socialist Party is against it.

On Sunday, the Swiss public will get its say.

The government video below, in French, explains the initiative further:

The same video is available in German and Italian.

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Swiss to vote on state pension increases

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On 25 September 2016, Swiss will vote on a plan to increase state pensions. Vote initiator, Switzerland’s Socialist Party, wants basic state pensions to go up by 10 percent. It argues that because costs have gone up, and returns on savings have declined, an increase is required to make up the difference.

AVS plus - source: Facebook_Oui a AVSplus

AVS plus – source: Facebook_Oui a AVSplus

In Switzerland, everyone is entitled to an old-age pension, funded by deductions from the salaries of those working. The Federal Constitution requires these pensions be sufficient to cover basic living expenses. Most pensioners rely on additional sources of income to supplement these payments, normally from occupational pension schemes. Those who struggle to cover their costs can claim supplementary benefits. Rather than targeting those who are struggling, the proposed 10 percent increase would be received by all retirees.

The Swiss government thinks the plan will put further strain on an already strained system. People born in the 1950s and 60s, when the birth rate was high, are now reaching retirement age. Increasing pensions at a time when retiree numbers are rising and the number of working age people is declining, will exacerbate the problem. In addition, they say they already have a detailed plan called the Pension Provision 2020 programme, and this initiative would throw a spanner in the works. Unsurprisingly, the National Council, the main organ of the Swiss federal government, rejected the initiative by 139 votes to 53 with 1 abstention.

Like the government, Switzerland’s other two main parties are against the plan, and a cross-party group has been assembled to oppose the initiative. The Liberal Radical Party (PLR/FDP) thinks increasing payments will put an already financially strained pension system at greater risk. It also thinks it is unfair to burden young people with higher salary deductions to support a growing number of retired people.

The Swiss People’s Party presents a similar argument. It points out that all retirees, rich and poor, will get the increase, while putting the whole system under further financial strain and placing an extra burden on the young.

AVS plus non - source: campaign flyer

AVS plus non – source: campaign flyer

To a large extent the two sides disagree on the numbers. The Socialist Party thinks that modest increases in social security payments, taken from salaries, combined with VAT increases will be enough to allow an already well-functioning pension system to pay higher sums to retirees. The majority in government, and the those from the Liberal Radical (PLR/FDP) and Swiss People’s Party, think Socialists have misled themselves with poor arithmetic. The PLR calculates that by 2030, the plan will require an additional CHF 5.5 billion per year, on top of an already predicted annual shortfall of 7.5 billion. The resulting total shortfall of CHF 13 billion would be borne by young, sometimes poor, working families, they say.

Some commentators, such as Florent Quiquerez, writing for 24 Heures, think the typically higher voter turnout among those over 64, a group more likely to vote for a pension increase, could swing the vote in favour of the plan, and against younger voters who are less likely to vote, but would be required to fund much of the rise out of their future salaries. According to an SSR/SRG survey, a majority of those between the ages of 40 and 64, and in particular those over 64, are in favour of the plan, while those under 40 are firmly against it.

More on this:
Proposed constitutional amendment (in French) - Take a 5 minute French test now
Proposed constitutional amendment (in German)
Arguments against
Arguments for

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Swiss to vote on a plan to cut ecological footprint by two thirds

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On 25 September 2016, the Swiss electorate will vote on the ‘Green Economy’ initiative, the work of the Green party.

Switzerland’s per capita consumption of the earth is far from sustainable. The Green party says three earths would be required if everyone on the planet consumed natural resources, such as water, air, soil or raw materials, at the same rate as those living in Switzerland. Their plan, if accepted, would aim to reduce Switzerland’s resource consumption to one third of its current rate by 2050, by focusing on climate protection, more efficient use of resources and cleaner imports.

The initiative requires the Confederation, cantons and communes to ensure that the Swiss economy makes more efficient use of natural resources and does as little harm as possible to the environment. Industry would be compelled to use raw materials sparingly, create as little waste as possible and recycle as much as possible.

25-september-2016-green-economy-vote

Switzerland’s Federal Council says that it “understands the concerns expressed” by the Green party. However, it believes the plan is too ambitious. It thinks achieving such targets would require “drastic economic measures and may have negative consequences for competitiveness, growth and employment.” In addition, they say they have already introduced many measures aimed at the efficient use of natural resources. Switzerland’s parliament shares the Federal Council’s view.

Switzerland’s National Council (parliament and cabinet together) rejected the initiative by 128 votes to 62 with 2 abstentions.

According to an article in the Tages Anzeiger, fossil fuel burning accounts for three quarters of Switzerland’s ecological footprint. ETH professor Tony Patt told the newspaper that CO2 emissions largely come down to four things: population, consumption, energy efficiency, and the share of fossil fuels in the energy mix. If fossil fuels were replaced entirely by renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, and hydro, then CO2 emissions would disappear. Technically it is possible, he believes.

Some Swiss political parties agree with the Swiss government. The Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) says the plan is too costly and will leave Switzerland dependent on foreign energy, while pointing out the open question on how to replace energy currently supplied by nuclear. The Liberal Radical party (PLR/FDP) also rejects it believing that it is too extreme, unrealistic, will reduce personal liberty, and damage the economy.

Swiss socialists are behind the initiative. They say Switzerland consumes too much resource and energy and the focus should be on the long term. They think the initiative could help Switzerland lead the way on technological innovation.

On 25 September 2016, Swiss voters will decide.

More on this:
Proposed constitutional amendment (in French) - Take a 5 minute French test now
Proposed constitutional amendment (in German)

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