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S U B S C R I B E
WRS stories about CH votes
Right-wing MP wants Swiss to vote on global treaties
Wednesday, 2 May, 2012
Just how much say should Swiss voters have on international treaties? One initiative going to the ballot next month would call for a mandatory referendum on international treaties. Today they only go to the public vote if someone collects 50,000 signatures to challenge it. The idea’s opposed by most political parties and the government warns it could create a democratic logjam. But proponents like Swiss People’s Party MP Luzi Stamm say the fears are overblown. In fact, he tells WRS’s Jordan Davis the more direct democracy, the better:
Wednesday, 2 May, 2012
Just how much say should Swiss voters have on international treaties? One initiative going to the ballot next month would call for a mandatory referendum on international treaties. Today they only go to the public vote if someone collects 50,000 signatures to challenge it. The idea’s opposed by most political parties and the government warns it could create a democratic logjam. But proponents like Swiss People’s Party MP Luzi Stamm say the fears are overblown. In fact, he tells WRS’s Jordan Davis the more direct democracy, the better:
Dateline CH: Why Swiss really said 'no' to more vacation
Thursday, 12 April, 2012
The BBC’s Imogen Foulkes comments on why she thinks the Swiss really voted against an initiative to increase the amount of statutory annual leave to six weeks from the current legal minimum of four. She says it’s because actually, the Swiss don’t really work that hard anyhow:
Thursday, 12 April, 2012
The BBC’s Imogen Foulkes comments on why she thinks the Swiss really voted against an initiative to increase the amount of statutory annual leave to six weeks from the current legal minimum of four. She says it’s because actually, the Swiss don’t really work that hard anyhow:
New Solothurn law sparks fears of xenophobia
Wednesday, 21 March, 2012
In the canton of Solothurn, the nationality of anyone getting in trouble with police must now appear in all official reports. Despite opposition from the left wing and the cantonal government, nearly three quarters of voters in the canton recently approved the measure. While some say it will bring greater transparency, others worry it could lead to discrimination, as WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports:
Wednesday, 21 March, 2012
In the canton of Solothurn, the nationality of anyone getting in trouble with police must now appear in all official reports. Despite opposition from the left wing and the cantonal government, nearly three quarters of voters in the canton recently approved the measure. While some say it will bring greater transparency, others worry it could lead to discrimination, as WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports:
Politicians slam idea of Swiss voting on global treaties
Wednesday, 21 March, 2012
Swiss citizens already have more chances to have their say at the ballot box than anyone else in the world, thanks to their system of direct democracy. However if the Campaign for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland has its way, Swiss voters could be expressing their opinions even more. The group wants all sorts of international treaties to be subject automatically to referendum. Even so, political and business leaders are alarmed and have begun to mobilise ahead of a vote in June on the issue, as WRS’s Vincent Landon reports:
Wednesday, 21 March, 2012
Swiss citizens already have more chances to have their say at the ballot box than anyone else in the world, thanks to their system of direct democracy. However if the Campaign for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland has its way, Swiss voters could be expressing their opinions even more. The group wants all sorts of international treaties to be subject automatically to referendum. Even so, political and business leaders are alarmed and have begun to mobilise ahead of a vote in June on the issue, as WRS’s Vincent Landon reports:
Despite 'no' vote on fixed book prices, real threat is online
Friday, 16 March, 2012
Many small bookshops were hoping for a “yes” vote last Sunday on the initiative for a fixed price on books. It was meant to save them from big competitors and distributors, but now that the population’s said “no,” some admit the real threat lies rather in shoppers buying online. A federal investigation into why prices are so high in the western part of the country could still make a difference though, as WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports:
Friday, 16 March, 2012
Many small bookshops were hoping for a “yes” vote last Sunday on the initiative for a fixed price on books. It was meant to save them from big competitors and distributors, but now that the population’s said “no,” some admit the real threat lies rather in shoppers buying online. A federal investigation into why prices are so high in the western part of the country could still make a difference though, as WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports:
Concern rises over new Geneva law curbing protests
Thursday, 15 March, 2012
A 100,000 franc fine and a possible five year ban—just some of the possible consequences of holding a demonstration in canton Geneva after a vote on Sunday tightened protest laws. Fifty-four percent of Genevans voted for the new restrictions which involve giving a month’s notice before holding a demonstration and facing a ban on holding demos in the future if things get out of hand. The UN—which has its European headquarters in the city—has openly criticized the changes saying they “unduly restrict the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression, which are core in any democracy.” WRS’s Dave Goodman spoke to Michael Ineichen from the International Service for Human Rights who supports the UN’s stance on the law and began by asking him to outline his concerns:
Thursday, 15 March, 2012
A 100,000 franc fine and a possible five year ban—just some of the possible consequences of holding a demonstration in canton Geneva after a vote on Sunday tightened protest laws. Fifty-four percent of Genevans voted for the new restrictions which involve giving a month’s notice before holding a demonstration and facing a ban on holding demos in the future if things get out of hand. The UN—which has its European headquarters in the city—has openly criticized the changes saying they “unduly restrict the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression, which are core in any democracy.” WRS’s Dave Goodman spoke to Michael Ineichen from the International Service for Human Rights who supports the UN’s stance on the law and began by asking him to outline his concerns:
Valais mulls how to wean itself off building secondary homes
Tuesday, 13 March, 2012
Mountainous cantons are coming to terms with a new reality voters handed to them on Sunday. The constitution now calls for second homes and apartments to comprise no more than 20 percent of the housing stock in a given town. Valais was the canton with the biggest “no” vote with nearly three quarters of people against the initiative. Many said it would be a severe blow to the tourism there, but now it’s having to figure out how to wean the industry off building second homes. WRS’s Jordan David reports:
Tuesday, 13 March, 2012
Mountainous cantons are coming to terms with a new reality voters handed to them on Sunday. The constitution now calls for second homes and apartments to comprise no more than 20 percent of the housing stock in a given town. Valais was the canton with the biggest “no” vote with nearly three quarters of people against the initiative. Many said it would be a severe blow to the tourism there, but now it’s having to figure out how to wean the industry off building second homes. WRS’s Jordan David reports:
Strong work ethic leads Swiss to reject more time off
Monday, 12 March, 2012
So why are the Swiss not turned on by more time off? The Swiss have also voted on numerous occasions in the last 30 years against extra statutory holidays and fewer working hours in a week. WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Hans Ulrich Jost, an honorary professor of history at the University of Lausanne:
Monday, 12 March, 2012
So why are the Swiss not turned on by more time off? The Swiss have also voted on numerous occasions in the last 30 years against extra statutory holidays and fewer working hours in a week. WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Hans Ulrich Jost, an honorary professor of history at the University of Lausanne:
Figuring out why Swiss reject extra vacation and limit holiday homes
Monday, 12 March, 2012
On Sunday, two thirds of Swiss voters shot down an initiative to increase the amount of statutory annual leave to six weeks from the current legal minimum of four. WRS’s Jordan Davis has been following this and the rest of yesterday’s votes:
Monday, 12 March, 2012
On Sunday, two thirds of Swiss voters shot down an initiative to increase the amount of statutory annual leave to six weeks from the current legal minimum of four. WRS’s Jordan Davis has been following this and the rest of yesterday’s votes:
Voters approve limit on secondary homes
Monday, 12 March, 2012
Construction in some tourist areas is likely to come to a screeching halt. On Sunday, 50.6 percent of Swiss voters approved the initiative limiting secondary homes. Now the constitution says those secondary residences cannot comprise more than 20 percent of the total housing in a given commune. It was a hard fought victory for Franz Weber, the man well known for his crusading environmental battles. But the results of the vote have exposed serious divisions between urban and mountain regions, as WRS’s Jordan Davis reports from Bern:
Monday, 12 March, 2012
Construction in some tourist areas is likely to come to a screeching halt. On Sunday, 50.6 percent of Swiss voters approved the initiative limiting secondary homes. Now the constitution says those secondary residences cannot comprise more than 20 percent of the total housing in a given commune. It was a hard fought victory for Franz Weber, the man well known for his crusading environmental battles. But the results of the vote have exposed serious divisions between urban and mountain regions, as WRS’s Jordan Davis reports from Bern:
Swiss turn down an extra two weeks of holiday
Sunday, 11 March, 2012
Swiss voters made it official Sunday: They said no to six weeks of paid leave a year for everyone working in Switzerland. The initiative needed a majority of both voters and cantons and it got neither. None of the cantons approved it, and 67 percent of people voted against. WRS’s Lucas Chambers went out into the streets of Lausanne yesterday to ask those against why they’d said, “no”:
Sunday, 11 March, 2012
Swiss voters made it official Sunday: They said no to six weeks of paid leave a year for everyone working in Switzerland. The initiative needed a majority of both voters and cantons and it got neither. None of the cantons approved it, and 67 percent of people voted against. WRS’s Lucas Chambers went out into the streets of Lausanne yesterday to ask those against why they’d said, “no”:
New website helps voters understand Geneva issues
Friday, 9 March, 2012
With all the issues Switzerland votes on, it’s easy to get lost. One website is trying to help navigate voters through the issues, particularly those in Geneva. The goal is to present each subject in just one precious minute. WRS’s Alex Helmick gives Thomas Corminboeuf, president of Eclairemonvote.ch, a couple minutes to explain how this works:
Friday, 9 March, 2012
With all the issues Switzerland votes on, it’s easy to get lost. One website is trying to help navigate voters through the issues, particularly those in Geneva. The goal is to present each subject in just one precious minute. WRS’s Alex Helmick gives Thomas Corminboeuf, president of Eclairemonvote.ch, a couple minutes to explain how this works:
Should the Swiss be able to vote on anything and everything?
Thursday, 1 March, 2012
Should the people be able to vote on anything? And just what and who should put the limits on what goes to the ballot? It’s a debate that’s grown in recent years after initiatives to ban minarets and expel foreign criminals. And yesterday the Senate sent a message to the government that it wants greater powers to block initiatives from going to the ballot if they violate certain fundamental rights. WRS’s Jordan Davis reports from Bern:
Thursday, 1 March, 2012
Should the people be able to vote on anything? And just what and who should put the limits on what goes to the ballot? It’s a debate that’s grown in recent years after initiatives to ban minarets and expel foreign criminals. And yesterday the Senate sent a message to the government that it wants greater powers to block initiatives from going to the ballot if they violate certain fundamental rights. WRS’s Jordan Davis reports from Bern:
A nationwide limit on secondary homes?
Monday, 27 February, 2012
Should secondary homes that stay empty much of the year be capped at no more than 20 percent of each commune’s buildable area? Voters across the country will have to answer that question in around two weeks’ time. In some places, like the canton of Valais, many fear an economic apocalypse. It’s reached such a pitch that some locals say they don’t dare speak their minds. WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports from Veysonnaz in the canton of Valais with a follow-up from our reporter Jordan Davis, who spoke to the woman who’s heading the campaign, Vera Weber of the Franz Weber Foundation:
Monday, 27 February, 2012
Should secondary homes that stay empty much of the year be capped at no more than 20 percent of each commune’s buildable area? Voters across the country will have to answer that question in around two weeks’ time. In some places, like the canton of Valais, many fear an economic apocalypse. It’s reached such a pitch that some locals say they don’t dare speak their minds. WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports from Veysonnaz in the canton of Valais with a follow-up from our reporter Jordan Davis, who spoke to the woman who’s heading the campaign, Vera Weber of the Franz Weber Foundation:
Will French speakers reunite in the Jura region?
Wednesday, 22 February, 2012
It’s rare that we talk about separatist strife in Switzerland. But the breakaway of canton Jura from canton Bern four decades ago left many scars. Ever since, many had called for a re-vote in the parts that decided back in 1978 to stay in Bern. That could re-unite the French speakers of the region. Now Bern and Jura have finally agreed to the terms of a new poll. But the question is some are now asking is “Does it really matter anymore?” WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports.
Wednesday, 22 February, 2012
It’s rare that we talk about separatist strife in Switzerland. But the breakaway of canton Jura from canton Bern four decades ago left many scars. Ever since, many had called for a re-vote in the parts that decided back in 1978 to stay in Bern. That could re-unite the French speakers of the region. Now Bern and Jura have finally agreed to the terms of a new poll. But the question is some are now asking is “Does it really matter anymore?” WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports.
