2016 Swiss referendums

National referendums held in Switzerland in 2016 Thirteen national referendums were held in Switzerland during 2016. February referendums On 28 February 2016, referendums were held on four initiatives:Abstimmungsvorlagen für den 28. Februar 2016, admin.ch Popular initiative of 5 November 2012 "For the couple and the family - No to the penalty of marriage", proposed by the Christian Democrats. It would have prohibited discrimination in taxes for married couples (who pay more in certain circumstances) compared to other cohabiting couples, but it would also have added the definition of marriage being "the union of a man and a woman".Fenazzi Sonia http://www.swissinfo.ch/directdemocracy/ccccccccccccc_tax-break-vote-shell/41874934 Tax initiative in hot water over marriage definition - SWI Swissinfo.ch 2016-01-06 5 March 2016 Opposition to the initiative was mainly because it would make opening marriage to same-sex couples no longer possible under the constitution.JCVP Kanton Zürich: Nein zur Ehedefinition https://web.archive.org/web/20151125063015/https://queer.ch/politik/schweiz/jcvp-zuerich-nein-zur-ehedefinition/ 2015-11-25 , 6. November 2015, queer.chfr Le PDC genevois ne défendra pas son initiative https://web.archive.org/web/20160402035601/http://www.lecourrier.ch/135529/le_pdc_genevois_ne_defendra_pas_son_initiative 2016-04-02 , Le Courrier, retrieved on 28 February 2016 (The referendum on this initiative was invalidated in a 10 April 2019 decision of the Federal Supreme Court, which ordered a re-vote.)Swiss court orders historic referendum re-run https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-47879777 BBC News 10 April 2019 11 April 2019 Popular initiative of 28 December 2012 "For the effective expulsion of foreign criminals", proposed by the Swiss People's Party which claimed it would provide full implementation of an initiative approved in a November 2010 referendum.Raaflaub Christian http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/-initiative_literal-implementation-causes-controversy/41863564 Deportation initiative back before voters - SWI Swissinfo.ch 2016-01-06 5 March 2016 Foreigners who commit a crime would be automatically expelled from the country, regardless of the severity of the crime. Popular initiative of 24 March 2014 "No speculation on food", proposed by the Young Socialists.Pauchard Olivier http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/leftwing-initiative_bid-to-end-financial-speculation-on-foodstuffs/41854850 Bid to end financial speculation on foodstuffs - SWI Swissinfo.ch 2016-01-06 5 March 2016 Modification of 26 September 2014 of the federal law on road transit in the Alpine region (Reconstruction of the Gotthard road tunnel). It allowed building a second road tunnel in order for the current tunnel to be reconstructed.Jorio Luigi http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/divisive-renovation-project_opposing-views-on-doubling-the-gotthard-tunnel/41873860 Opposing views on doubling the Gotthard tunnel - SWI Swissinfo.ch 2016-01-06 5 March 2016 This government plan was challenged to a referendum by opposition groups who fear the four lanes would eventually be used, increasing traffic, and who considered it too costly. The government recommended the rejection of all three popular initiatives, but recommended approval of the amendments to the federal law on road transit in the Alpine region. The vote results followed these recommendations, with higher voter turnout than usual. Results QuestionForAgainstInvalid/blankTotalvotesRegisteredvotersTurnoutCantons forCantons againstResultVotes%Votes%FullHalfFullHalfFor the couple and the family1,609,15249.21,664,22450.880,6433,354,0195,302,79763.215353 RejectedExpulsion of foreign criminals1,375,09841.11,966,96558.937,5043,379,56763.733173 RejectedNo speculation on food1,287,78640.11,925,93759.9122,4553,336,17862.911195 RejectedGotthard road tunnel reconstruction1,883,85957.01,420,39043.061,3193,365,568 63.5 AcceptedSource: Government of Switzerland 1, 2, 3, 4 June referendums Five propositions were on the ballot for the 5 June 2016 referendum:Abstimmungsvorlagen für den 5. Juni 2016 Government of Switzerland A popular initiative for a basic income.Geiser Urs Poll Finds Basic Income Proposal Doomed to Fail http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/xxxxxxxxxxxxxx_poll-finds-basic-income-proposal-doomed-to-fail/42120152 April 29, 2016 Swissinfo 4 May 2016 A popular initiative for fair transport financing. According to this initiative, revenue from fuel tax would have been used exclusively for road construction.Siegenthaler Peter Are Motorists the Cash Cows of Switzerland? http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/traffic-funding_are-motorists-the-cash-cows-of-switzerland-/42085380 April 26, 2016 Swissinfo 4 May 2016 A popular initiative for public service. Launched by four news and consumer rights magazines, this initiative sought to improve public services by mandating that the government not set any profitmaking goals for public services, that any profits not fund the overall budget, and that public service directors would not earn more than the corresponding government minister.Pauchard Olivier Public Services In Voter Spotlight http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/vote-june-5--2016_public-services-in-voter-spotlight/42114660 April 26, 2016 Swissinfo 4 May 2016 A referendum on amendments to the medically assisted reproduction law.Miserez Marc-André Swiss Vote Again On Genetic Screening http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/june-5-vote_swiss-vote-again-on-genetic-screening/42065402 April 14, 2016 Swissinfo 4 May 2016 A referendum on amendments to the federal asylum law.Mombelli Armando Political Right Tries to Block Asylum Reform http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/vote-june-5--2016_political-right-tries-to-block-asylum-reform/42082818 April 26, 2016 Swissinfo 4 May 2016 All three popular initiatives were rejected, whilst the two legislative amendments were approved. The voters thus again followed the recommendations of the government. Medically assisted reproduction (MAR) The law establishes that all embryos conceived in a test tube can be examined using all the genetic techniques available, and then selected. In this way, embryos with Down syndrome (trisomy 21) can be destroyed before implantation. Asylum law The new law provided free legal advice and representation for all asylum seekers, and speeding-up procedures for granting or refusing asylum. It also established new federal reception centers run by the federal government and staffed by federal officials where most asylum seekers would be accommodated. Basic income referendum thumb|In 2013, eight million 5-cent coins (one per inhabitant) were dumped on the Bundesplatz to support the popular initiative for a basic income. The discussion about basic income in Switzerland began in the 1980s, initially amongst academics such as sociologists who saw the potential to alleviate poverty better than the current system. There was no major public debate in the 1980s nor the 1990s; however, in the early 2000s, things were slowly changing due to a spill-over from the German debate. Two basic income organizations were formed, Initiative Grundeinkommen and BIEN-Switzerland, and one ATTAC-group also became advocates. These organizations had some success, including some articles in national newspapers.The Basic Income Debate in Switzerland: Experiences and a Republican Perspective Basic Income The petition calling for a referendum on basic income as a constitutional right was started in April 2012. After six months 42,000 people had signed, and by April 2013 there were approximately 70,000 signatures.Swiss parliament may soon debate unconditional basic income https://web.archive.org/web/20141024215412/http://www.nna-news.org/index.php?id=9&tx_ttnews%5Byear%5D=2013&tx_ttnews%5Bmonth%5D=04&tx_ttnews%5Bday%5D=30&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1054&cHash=77e5ad1fba7d00dc0923dcbddf4fe97e 2014-10-24 NNA, 30 April 2013 By October 2013, more than 130,000 citizens had signed, meaning a referendum on the issue had to be held. Publicity included a truck filled with eight million coins emptying the money in front of the Federal Palace in Bern. Even though the initiative's official text submitted to the vote did not specify any level, the campaigners proposed 2,500 Swiss francs for adults (about US$1,650 at PPP in 2014) and 625 francs for children per month.Swiss to vote on incomes for all - working or not BBC News, 18 December 2013PPP conversion factor, private consumption (LCU per international $) World Bank, International Comparison Program databaseSwiss to vote on guaranteed income for all The Local, 27 January 2016 Results QuestionForAgainstInvalid/blankTotalvotesRegisteredvotersTurnoutCantons forCantons againstResultVotes%Votes%FullHalfFullHalfBasic income568,66023.11,897,52876.928,6602,494,8485,313,44246.9500206RejectedFor fair transport financing709,97429.21,719,66170.855,7492,485,38446.7800206RejectedFor public services784,30332.41,637,70767.662,9972,485,00746.7700206RejectedAmendments to the medically assisted reproduction law1,490,41762.4897,31837.692,6102,480,34546.68 ApprovedAmendments to the federal asylum law1,616,59766.8804,08633.265,3492,486,03246.79ApprovedSource: Government of Switzerland 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 September referendums Three referendums were held on 25 September 2016; a popular initiative for a green economy (launched by the Green Party of Switzerland), a popular initiative concerning the retirement system and a referendum on the federal law on intelligence.Abstimmungsvorlagen für den 25. September 2016 https://www.news.admin.ch/de/nsb?id=61671 admin.ch 11 June 2016 Both of the popular initiatives were rejected, whilst the federal intelligence law was approved. Results QuestionForAgainstInvalid/blankTotalvotesRegisteredvotersTurnoutCantons forCantons againstResultVotes%Votes%FullHalfFullHalfGreen economy819,77036.41,430,27363.641,4272,291,4705,329,18343.010196RejectedRetirement system921,37540.61,348,03259.429,0852,298,49243.150156RejectedFederal intelligence law1,459,06865.5768,06534.561,4162,288,54942.9 ApprovedSource: Government of Switzerland 1, 2, 3 November referendum Anti-nuclear movement in Switzerland Nuclear power in Switzerland The 27 November referendum had only one question, a federal popular initiative "for the programmed phase-out of nuclear energy" (against nuclear power plants).Volksinitiative "Für den geordneten Ausstieg aus der Atomenergie (Atomausstiegsinitiative)" https://www.admin.ch/gov/de/start/dokumentation/abstimmungen/20161127/atomausstiegsinitiative.html admin.ch October 8, 2016 The initiative dated from 2012, about one year after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan. It was rejected by voters.Vote Results: Nuclear Power Initiative http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/vote-results-november-27th-2016/42592236 November 27, 2016 Swissinfo November 30, 2016 QuestionForAgainstInvalid/blankTotalvotesRegisteredvotersTurnoutCantons forCantons againstResultVotes%Votes%FullHalfFullHalfNuclear energy phase-out1,099,40945.81,300,86054.221,7292,421,9985,336,71145.442164RejectedSource: Government of Switzerland References Swiss Category:Referendums in Switzerland Switzerland Referendums Category:Same-sex marriage referendums Category:LGBTQ rights in Switzerland Switzerland