The Expert Guide: Direct Democracy

DIRECT DEMOCRACY Let the people decide. That fundamental principle of democracy is taken to its logical conclusion in Switzerland, where the people can decide on anything and everything. Under the Swiss system of direct democracy, referendums give voters the final say on legislation at every level (municipal, cantonal and national). Or citizens can trigger a vote on any issue by collecting signatures.

The result is that the Swiss vote three or four times a year on a variety of topics, from opening hours and animal rights to pensions and immigration.

Amazingly, it’s a system that works, partly because most Swiss voters take their responsibility seriously but also because not everything goes to a vote.

About 80% of legislation is passed without the public being directly involved, but the potential for a referendum is always there, acting as a counterweight to the politicians.

The main drawback is that direct democracy is slow. It takes time to collect signatures, campaign, vote, legislate and then maybe vote again. That’s one reason why women couldn’t vote until 1971 and Switzerland didn’t join the UN until 2002. On the plus side, contentious issues, such as abortion or gay rights, are usually decided by the people rather than parliament or the courts, and so can be less polarising than elsewhere. That doesn’t mean one vote settles the issue – it can sometimes take two or three – but once a consensus is found, the topic becomes less of an issue.

Two cantons – Appenzell Innerrhoden and Glarus – still hold a Lands­ gemeinde, or annual open-air assembly, where voters decide in person on the issues at hand.

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VOTING RIGHTS

To be able to vote, you must be Swiss and over 18. Swiss nationals living abroad retain these rights, whereas foreigners living here cannot vote in federal elections or referendums. Note that the allocation of seats in federal parliament is based on the population in each canton – including any resident foreigners.

Two cantons – Jura and Neuchâtel – allow foreigners to vote at the cantonal level as long as they’ve been resident for long enough. At municipal level, foreigners living in five cantons (FR, GE, JU, NE, VD) have the right to vote, if they meet the relevant criteria, eg having a C permit. In three other cantons (AR, BS, GR), municipalities can extend voting rights to foreigners if they wish, though few have done so.

A PEOPLE’S VOTE

Given the central role the referendum plays in the Swiss political system, it’s perhaps no surprise to learn that there is more than one type. Here’s a quick guide to the three ways Swiss direct democracy works in practice at federal level.

Mandatory referendum: a compulsory vote is required for any amendment to the constitution or for accession to a supranational organisation (eg the EU). It needs a double majority to pass: that of the popular vote and also of the cantons.

Optional referendum: once parliament has passed any legislation, voters have 100 days to collect 50,000 signatures and force a referendum. It only needs a simple majority of the popular vote to either accept or reject the legislation in question.

Popular initiative: most frequent is when citizens demand a change to the constitution.To do that they must collect 100,000 signatures within 18 months and then win the subsequent vote with a double majority. Only about 10% of initiatives are passed. Those that do win normally need legislation to enact the changes.

DID YOU KNOW?

Voting is not compulsory and turnout is usually around 50%; the highest ever was 78.7% in the 1992 vote on joining the European Economic Area – and the answer was no.

Swiss Facts 61