Questions are being raised on how an initiative is collecting signatures.
The ‘Stop Blackout’ campaign wants to reverse the decision to close all nuclear power plants in Switzerland, and build more. But is the campaign being run by lobbyists?
The process of getting people to sign is being run by a company called Incop Switzerland, which is charging CHF 75,000 for 10,000 names. An invoice has been uncovered by the Tages Anzeiger newspaper and the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation.
That is considered a very high fee. In other instances, the company would have charged CHF 3,000 for the same number.
Incop says the price it charges reflects the time it needs to collect the names and even the weather.
Charging for signature collection is banned by many cantons, but not at a federal level.
The co-president of the Young Greens, Margot Chauderna, tweeted a picture of the invoice, with the comment, ‘if you still doubt the rich run politics, here’s the proof’.
The Swiss Energy Club, which is behind the initiative, is refusing to comment, but says it works with several organisations.
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