{"id":234470,"date":"2024-11-28T11:30:07","date_gmt":"2024-11-28T11:30:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/votazioni-novembre-2024\/"},"modified":"2024-11-28T11:44:10","modified_gmt":"2024-11-28T11:44:10","slug":"vote-november-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/en\/vote-november-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Swiss vote result of 24 November 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

Swiss vote result of 24 November 2024<\/span><\/h1>\n

In the federal vote on 24 November 2024, the Swiss say yes to the uniform financing of healthcare, but reject the expansion of motorways and new rent rules.<\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n
\"Vote<\/a>
<\/span> Vote Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the federal vote on 24 November 2024, Swiss voters voted on four issues, with significant outcomes reflecting the regional divisions and priorities of the electorate. Among the core issues, the people approved with 53.3 per cent of votes in favour the new health care financing system, a historic reform that standardises the treatment of outpatient and hospital services. However, plans to expand the motorway network and legislative changes concerning rents were rejected.<\/span><\/p>\n

Healthcare: a historic reform<\/span><\/h2>\n

The new healthcare financing system, supported by the government and parliament, aims to improve efficiency and reduce healthcare costs. Under the revision, the cantons will cover a little more than a quarter of the costs, while the rest will be borne by insurance companies. Voter turnout stood at 44.9 per cent, but the reform was favourably received in many German-speaking cantons, with peaks of support in the eastern regions. In contrast, the French-speaking cantons were strongly opposed, with Geneva and Neuch\u00e2tel registering over 65% \u2018no\u2019 votes.<\/span><\/p>\n

The uniform financing of inpatient, outpatient and long-term care will be introduced gradually, the Federal Councillor emphasised. Starting in 2028, it will cover inpatient and outpatient services, while long-term care will be included from 2032.<\/span><\/p>\n

Infrastructure: no to the expansion of the motorway network<\/span><\/h2>\n

The proposal to expand six sections of the Swiss motorway network was rejected with 52.7 per cent of the votes. The project, which would have involved significant investments in the expansion phase, did not convince voters. Among the main reasons for the \u2018no\u2019 vote were environmental concerns and a growing scepticism towards large infrastructure projects.<\/span><\/p>\n

Against the tide were the Swiss abroad, who were overwhelmingly in favour of the motorway expansion. Possible explanations include a perception of Swiss motorways as more congested than those in their home countries and a change in priorities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Switzerland’s rejection of motorway expansion plans surprised many international observers. One reason for the popular \u2018no\u2019 vote, according to \u2018Zeit online\u2019, could be concern over the heavy immigration that Switzerland has been facing for years. Although the referendum result initially appears to be a triumph for the red-green parties and environmental associations, it can also be interpreted as a victory for conservative forces where the Free Movement debate has historically enjoyed great support.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rents: new rules rejected<\/span><\/h2>\n

The new rent rules were also rejected. The proposal to make it easier to terminate leases and to tighten the requirements for subletting was rejected with 53.8% of the vote. In a country where 60 per cent of the population lives in rented accommodation, the electorate preferred to maintain the current protections for tenants.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Eurostat 2022 data, Switzerland is the country with the lowest percentage of homeowners, with only 38.2 per cent of the population owning property, including those who have a mortgage or a current loan.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"CH<\/a>
CH Kantonskarte \u00a9 2022. Bundesamt f\u00fcr Landestopografie (swisstopo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Altre votazioni cantonali<\/span><\/h2>\n

The canton of St. Gallen<\/strong> was recently at the centre of a heated tax debate, with the vote on increasing commuter deductions raising arguments between urban and rural areas. The proposal to increase the tax deduction to CHF 8,000 was approved with 51 per cent of the votes.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to this, two other important initiatives were put to the vote: the approval of the 7th Amendment to the Social Welfare Act, which was supported by 84% of the votes, and the introduction of funding measures for nursing education, which received 88% support. These results reflect the Canton of St. Gallen’s ongoing commitment to improving fiscal and social policies, with a focus on the areas of care and vocational training, but also a clear division between urban and rural areas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also in this canton, on 24 November, in the wake of the rejection of large infrastructure projects, the citizens of the municipality of Uznach rejected with 57 per cent of the votes the municipal contribution to the construction of the A15-Gaster regional link road, which was seen as an opportunity to relieve traffic congestion in the village.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The citizens of the canton of Uri<\/strong> have rejected with 66.4 per cent of the votes the Greens’ initiative \u201cIsleten for All\u201d, which proposed to transform a former industrial site into a natural recreation area. Egyptian businessman Samih Sawiris’ project to build a hotel, flats, residences and bungalows on the Isleten peninsula can therefore go ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the canton of Neuch\u00e2tel<\/strong>, the introduction of the right to digital integrity in the cantonal constitution was approved with 91.5% of the votes in favour. Digital integrity includes the right to personal data protection, online security, offline privacy and forgetting. It also includes the promotion of digital inclusion and awareness-raising on these issues. Although the cantonal government was sceptical about possible excessive expectations, the decree was supported as a positive signal for digital rights. At the cantonal level, similar initiatives were adopted in Geneva, while in Valais it was rejected. At the federal level, a similar initiative was rejected by the National Council in 2022.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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In Basel-City,<\/strong> the CHF 37.5 million credit for side events of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 was approved with 66.57 per cent of the votes in favour. The funding will cover the costs of infrastructure, security, transport and accommodation, with an estimated expenditure of around CHF 35 million, offset by CHF 2.5 million from the \u2018Arena Plus\u2019 public viewing programme at the St. Jakob-Park stadium.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the same time, the citizens rejected with 55.58% no (32,377 against 25,875) a proposal that would have granted the right to vote, but not to stand for election, to foreigners with a C permit who have been resident for at least five years. The proposal required an amendment to the cantonal constitution and was submitted to a mandatory referendum.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the canton of Lucerne<\/strong>, an amendment to the Planning and Building Act to facilitate the construction of wind farms was approved by a majority of 68.5 per cent. The new authorisation procedure, which concerns large-scale plants, is based on a cantonal master plan with 22 potential sites.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the canton of Zug,<\/strong> the revision of the forestry law was approved by a large majority. The aim is to better protect the flora and fauna in forests, while keeping them accessible as recreational spaces. Among the restrictions introduced, cyclists will only be allowed on forest roads and specific mountain bike routes, excluding forest paths. In addition, a ban on flying drones in forests has been introduced. The Mountainbike Zug Association promoted a referendum against these restrictions, but it was rejected with a 51.2 per cent turnout.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the canton of Geneva<\/strong>, votes were held on various issues.<\/span><\/p>\n

Income tax reduction:<\/em> The proposal to lower income taxes was rejected by the population. If it had been approved, the reduction would have come into effect in 2025, benefiting mainly the middle class, which would have seen a tax reduction of more than 11%, while high income earners would have had a 5% reduction.<\/span><\/p>\n

Public transport fares:<\/em> An amendment was proposed that would have changed the way public transport fares are set in Canton Geneva. The law would have transferred this competence from the Grand Council to other bodies. The proposal was accepted.<\/span><\/p>\n

Urban planning:<\/em> A legislative amendment concerning the \u2018Plan localis\u00e9 de quartier (PLQ)\u2019, which sets out how urban development plans for neighbourhoods should be approved, was rejected by 69.6% of the population. The amendment would have required the initial approval of landowners before starting the planning process.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the canton of Aargau,<\/strong> an initiative proposing the introduction of voting rights at cantonal and municipal level from the age of 16 was rejected by 79.7%. The proposal was launched by the youth movements of the main parties (except the SVP). Supporters, including the SP, the Greens, the Liberal Greens and the Evangelicals, referred to the example of canton Glarus, where the right to vote has already been granted to 16-year-olds. Similar initiatives had recently been rejected in the cantons of Zurich and Berne.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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