Switzerland voted for the applications of 5 laws and initiatives. All three related to climate change and the environment were rejected. The COVID-19 and Antiterrorism laws were accepted.
On June 13, Swiss citizens participated in their usual referendums to approve bills to enforce. And they refused the CO2 law with 51.6% of the votes against it. The initiatives about pesticides and clean, drinkable water were largely rejected, with 61% of the voters against them. The participation rate of 60% of the eligible population is much higher than previous years’ averages.
The revised CO2 law aimed to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 50% before 2030. It included taxes on airplane tickets, gas or fossil fuels. The construction industry would have got new norms for more energy-efficient buildings. More than half of the money was going to be redistributed to the population and businesses. The rest of the money collected was supposed to end up in a newly dedicated climate fund.
At first, the polls suggested the population was in favor of it but its popularity eroded. The results come somehow as a surprise. All parties, except the Swiss People’s Party, supported the law. Swiss news media report that voters decided based on economic reasons. The slogan of the SPP, a national conservative party, was actually “Before the end of the world, the end of the month,” referring to the economic difficulties of making ends meet.
The two popular initiatives would have banned synthetic pesticides and restricted conditions for granting environmental subsidies. The Federal Assembly, which holds Switzerland’s legislative power, considered the initiatives as too abrupt. However, they enjoyed 55% of favorable opinions in the polls two months ago.
Swiss politicians considered the popular initiatives too abrupt
The pesticide initiative was supposed to ban the use of synthetic pesticides in Switzerland for agriculture, food processing, or the maintenance of public infrastructure and personal yards. It would have also impacted sports infrastructures. It would have also led to the ban on the import of food using pesticides. The agriculture industry had ten years to comply if passed.
The initiative for clean, drinkable water and healthy food would have modified rules for farms to receive subsidies. It added the obligations for farmers to stop using pesticides, administer antibiotics only when animals are ill and not preventively, and maintain cattle with food they produce themselves.
Popular initiatives can change the Swiss Constitution if they collect 100,000 signatures — 1.2% of the Swiss population – in less than 18 months to be part of a referendum. The population usually approves only 10% of the popular initiatives presented to them.
Cities overall voted in favor of the extended CO2 law and popular initiatives, while rural areas, more impacted by the restrictions, were against it.
The COVID-19 law was approved in order to support businesses financially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The anti-terrorism law, which consists of preventively intercepting people suspected of terrorism, received 57% of favorable votes.
Media sources and useful links:
- Votation populaire du 13 juin 2021, Swiss Federal Council, June 2021, Free access
