A people’s initiative challenging the purchase of F-35A fighter jets has been withdrawn after the Swiss government signed off the deal with the United States.
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Denuncian “farsa democrática” con la compra de aviones de combate a EE UU
Supporters of the ‘Stop F-35A’ initiative said a nationwide vote would be meaningless as it could not change the course of the deal.
“We are withdrawing the initiative with a heavy heart. We do not want to offer a pseudo vote where voters can’t have a real say in the actual purchase decision,” Social Democrat politician Priska Seiler Graf told Swiss public broadcaster SRF.
Ministers had initially promised to delay the deal until the vote could be held but changed their minds when Russia invaded Ukraine, saying the war made it imperative to upgrade Switzerland’s air defences.
This decision has reduced Switzerland’s tradition of direct democracy to a “democratic farce”, said the initiative’s backers.
But the follow-up Stop F-35 initiative challenged the type of aircraft chosen and claimed that the real cost of the deal could spiral out of control. The initiative had gathered enough support to force another nationwide vote.
Swiss voters are set to decide on a people’s initiative calling for better protection of ecosystems in the country. Have your say on the September 22 vote.
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Controversial Swiss fighter jet deal signed off
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Swiss officials have signed a deal with the US to buy a fleet of F-35A fighter jets in the face of an ongoing row about their procurement.
Swiss voters could have final say on buying new US fighter jets
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A left-wing coalition has gathered enough signatures to challenge the government’s plan to buy F-35A fighter jets from the US.
Initiative against F-35A fighter jets gathers enough support
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Opponents of Switzerland’s purchase of US F-35A fighter jets say they have enough signatures to force a vote against this type of aircraft.
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