Vote results: May 19, 2019

Switzerland voted on Sunday on a wide-ranging corporate tax/pension reform as well as changes to the national gun law. Both reforms have been accepted. 

After the EU had approved a stricter gun law and passed it in 2017, Switzerland was pressured to follow along. The gun law ballot had been discussed controversially all over Switzerland. From now on, notably, buyers of semi-automatic guns will have to be members of a shooting club or shoot regularly.

A broad alliance of gun clubs, militia army officers, hunters and collectors, supported by the political right, tried to overturn the decision by parliament last year to fall into line with the EU law, forcing the referendum on Sunday. 

The result of the ballot on Sunday was clear: 66% voted in favour of a tightened gun law. The only canton to dismiss the reform was the canton of Ticino. 

Meanwhile, reforms to the corporate tax system, linked with a financial boost to the pension system, will most likely also be accepted. Two years ago, voters rejected a similar proposal to reform corporate tax in the country by 59%.