The five topics on the ballot in Switzerland on June 13, 2021
To the people the choices on the initiatives for clean water and against pesticides and on the laws COVID19, CO2 and police measures to combat terrorism
On June 13, 2021 the Swiss people will vote on five issues: two initiatives, those on clean water and pesticides, and on three laws, COVID19, CO2 and on police measures to combat terrorism
Popular initiative “For clean drinking water and healthy food”.
In Switzerland, in order to receive direct financial aid from the federal government, farmers must prove that they meet a number of environmental conditions.
According to the initiative committee, however, these requirements are insufficient; it also claims that the current agricultural policy undermines the fundamental right to clean drinking water. Therefore, the initiative wants to grant direct aid only to farmers who do not use antibiotics regularly and prophylactically, who do not use pesticides and who are able to feed all their livestock with fodder produced on their farm. The initiative committee demands that the agricultural research and training sector also act in favor of this type of agriculture.
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The Federal Council and Parliament share the concerns of the initiative but believe it is too demanding. Government and Parliament recall that changes in the law aimed at reducing the risks of pesticides are already underway (last March, Parliament adopted amendments that find favour with the Federal Council). If the initiative were to be accepted, it is conceivable that Swiss agricultural production would decrease, thus requiring an increase in food imports from abroad, with negative consequences for the environment of the countries involved.
The question on the ballot:
“Do you want to accept the popular initiative “Clean drinking water and healthy food – No subsidies for the use of pesticides and prophylactic use of antibiotics” ?
NO: Recommendation of the Federal Council and the Parliament
For the Federal Council and Parliament, the initiative places excessive demands. If it were to be accepted, many farms would produce less food, so that imports would have to be increased. This would shift the burden of pollution abroad. Parliament is already working on the implementation of the main demand of the initiative.
YES: Recommendation of the initiative committee
In the opinion of the initiative committee, the current agricultural policy violates the right to clean drinking water, which is compromised by the massive use of pesticides, the excessive use of antibiotics and the excessive spreading of sewage on the fields. A reorientation of subsidies is necessary to remedy these environmental damages and health risks, financed with taxpayers’ money.
Popular initiative “For a Switzerland without synthetic pesticides”.
The use of pesticides is permitted in Switzerland: they are used in agriculture, in the production and processing of foodstuffs and also in landscape and soil care to combat harmful organisms and pathogens. Only pesticides approved in Switzerland may be used. And before they are placed on the market, they must undergo strict controls to avoid risks to human health and the environment.
However, the initiative committee considers these preventive measures unsatisfactory. It therefore demands a ban on the use of synthetic pesticides in Switzerland and a ban on the import of foodstuffs containing them. This ban would become total after a transitional period of 10 years.
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The Government and the Parliament, although sensitive to the issue, reject this initiative: already today the Confederation strictly regulates the use of pesticides and – moreover – supports financially the research and development and the introduction of alternatives. A ban would endanger the protection of plants and agricultural products against bacteria, viruses, etc. and would limit the supply and variety of imported foodstuffs. With negative consequences for both consumers and producers. Finally, it would violate existing international trade agreements.
The Parliament has recently adopted changes in the law to reduce the risks of pesticides.
The question on the ballot:
“Do you want to accept the popular initiative “For a Switzerland without synthetic pesticides”?
NO: Recommendation of the Federal Council and the Parliament
For the Federal Council and the Parliament the requested ban is excessive. It would restrict the supply of Swiss foodstuffs and the choice of imported foodstuffs. Hygiene regulations would be more difficult to comply with in production. The ban would also violate international trade agreements.
YES: Recommendation of the initiative committee
For the initiative committee, synthetic pesticides are highly toxic chemicals that contaminate rivers, drinking water and foodstuffs and are harmful to health. The procedure for their approval in Switzerland would be too lax and would lead to the contamination of drinking water. The aim of the initiative is to rid Switzerland of these poisons.
COVID Act19
In order to limit the damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the Federal Council decided on a series of measures and various forms of aid (e.g. compensation for short-time work, compensation for loss of earnings, aid for culture, sport and the media). In order to do this, it had to resort – in addition to the Epidemics Act – to the right of necessity, which is provided for in the Constitution so as to have the competence to decide and act in a context of crisis and danger. This “right of necessity” is limited to 6 months. In order to be able to continue to provide aid, the Federal Council and Parliament have drawn up a specific law, the COVID-19 law, which was adopted by Parliament as a matter of urgency and immediately put into practice.
This law was opposed by a referendum. According to the referendum committee, the law was in fact drafted too quickly and without consulting the citizens. Despite some positive aspects, it would also contain several disadvantages (e.g. aid to the media).
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The Federal Council and Parliament claim that the law was passed in accordance with the rules of democracy. This law is essential in order to guarantee aid to those affected by the pandemic, for as long as it is necessary to ensure jobs and the survival of Swiss companies.
If the law were to be rejected, it would end on 25.9.21 – one year after its implementation. This would mean that from that date there would no longer be the necessary legal basis to continue providing economic aid against the crisis, with the risk of creating a situation of great uncertainty.
The question on the ballot:
“Do you wish to accept the Federal Act of September 25, 2020 on the legal basis for Federal Council ordinances to address the COVID-19 outbreak (COVID-19 Act)”?
YES: Recommendation of the Federal Council and Parliament
In the view of the Federal Council and Parliament, the Act is necessary to address the most severe crisis since World War II. It ensures financial support for hundreds of thousands of individuals and businesses in distress, thereby mitigating their suffering and preserving jobs and wages.
NO: Recommendation of the referendum committee
The referendum committee criticizes the fact that the law was drafted in a very short time and put into force without consulting the people. For the committee, although the law contains positive elements, it also includes deleterious ones, such as subsidies for the media. According to the committee, the Federal Council could help those affected by the pandemic measures in other ways.
CO2 law
Greenhouse gas emissions – in particular CO2 – cause climate change that is harmful to humans and the environment. Heatwaves, droughts, floods and landslides are just some of the negative consequences that particularly affect Switzerland. In order to counteract this, the Federal Council and Parliament have developed a strategy to further reduce CO2 emissions which is contained in the CO2 Act.
A referendum is being held against this law: the law would be costly and unnecessary (Swiss CO2 emissions are only a very small part of global emissions), as well as hitting the middle classes and SMEs economically with new taxes and requirements.
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The Federal Council and Parliament are convinced that the chosen strategy is capable of limiting climate change and its harmful effects without penalising the population and companies. This is thanks to financial incentives or refunds for those who – both individuals and companies – generate less CO2; thanks to investments in climate protection and technical progress with benefits for all (for example, there would be a greater availability of vehicles with lower consumption of gasoline and diesel). With the new law, in addition to climate protection, new jobs and orders would be created for SMEs. And the dependence on foreign oil companies would be reduced.
If the new CO2 law were to be rejected, Switzerland would certainly have to say goodbye to its goal of halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 (Paris Agreement).
The question on the ballot:
“Do you want to accept the Federal Act of 25 September 2020 on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 Act)”?
YES: Recommendation of the Federal Council and Parliament
Periods of heatwaves, droughts, landslides: without more effective measures, climate change will cause massive damage and high costs. Many states have therefore taken action, and Switzerland must do the same. The law intensifies climate protection, generates orders for SMEs, creates jobs and is socially sustainable.
NO: Recommendation of the referendum committees
According to the “Economic Committee NO to the CO2 Act” the law is expensive and of no benefit to the climate. In addition, it is unfair because it mainly affects lower and middle income groups. For the committee “For a social ecology” the law consolidates the climatic structures.
Federal Law on Police Measures to Combat Terrorism (MPT).
Since the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks, the threat has remained high. Many states have refined their laws to strengthen the fight against terrorism. Switzerland has expanded its means of defense. However, some gaps remain. As a result, the Federal Council and Parliament have developed a new legal basis to enable the police to have more means to intervene preventively in the event of terrorist threats. Today, the police can only intervene when a person has already committed a crime.
Two committees opposed to this law have launched a referendum. They claim that the new means at their disposal will not bring more security: on the contrary, besides violating human rights and children’s rights (some measures can be taken against children as young as 12 years old) they would jeopardize the separation of powers, allowing the police to order and execute measures without the intervention of a judge, on the basis of a simple suspicion. In addition, they emphasize the arbitrary nature of this law, which in their opinion can define as “terrorist” any political activity not liked by the government.
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The Federal Council and Parliament are of the opinion that the law permits the police to intervene in defence of the population only in the presence of concrete and current indications of a terrorist threat. Any intervention by the police would be proportionate to the case in question. House arrest, for example, would intervene only as an extreme measure and would always require the intervention of a judge. The rule of law, fundamental rights and human rights would be respected; every decision could be challenged before a Federal Administrative Court. The new law is intended to complement the Swiss strategy to combat terrorism, which is based on the following pillars: prevention, repression, reintegration.
The question on the ballot:
“Do you want to accept the Federal Act of September 25, 2020 on Police Measures to Combat Terrorism (MPT)”?
YES: Recommendation of the Federal Council and Parliament
For the Federal Council and Parliament, the terrorist threat in Switzerland is high. The SIC also confirms this in its latest situation report. In order to be able to prevent attacks effectively, the police need additional instruments. These new instruments increase security and improve the protection of the population.
NO: Recommendation of the referendum committees
According to the referendum committees, the law is ineffective. They believe it insufficiently defines terrorist activity, violates children’s rights and human rights, and undermines the separation of powers. The law would threaten the security of the Swiss population and endanger irreproachable citizens.
