People’s Party defeated in citizenship vote

Keystone

Voters have rejected a proposal by the rightwing Swiss People's Party to reinstate the use of the ballot box to decide on naturalisation applications.

The electorate also turned down plans for health reform and proposed restrictions on the government’s information policy.

More than 63 per cent of voters and all but one of the country’s 26 cantons on Sunday came out against the initiative, which also wanted to deny the right of appeal to those whose citizenship requests had been rejected.

Opposition was particularly strong in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, with up to 80 per cent of votes cast against the initiative.

Five years ago the Federal Court outlawed the ballot box as a way of dealing with citizenship requests. It followed a series of allegedly discriminatory decisions by local voters in central Switzerland, particularly against people of Balkan origin.

But the People’s Party argued that it was up to local communities to decide on their citizenship procedures – whether by public assembly, special panel or secret vote at the ballot box.

It argued that current policy had led to a wave of naturalisations, including foreign criminals. Its campaign featured a controversial poster showing hands grabbing Swiss passports.

“Discriminatory”

But opponents including the government, three of the four main political parties and legal experts, said that reinstating the banned citizenship procedure would be discriminatory.

Switzerland, which has around 21 per cent foreigners, is widely held to have one of the toughest naturalisation processes in Europe, with people needing to wait 12 years before being eligible to apply.

Candidates in European Union countries have to wait between four and ten years.

In 2004 the Swiss rejected simplified naturalisation procedures for second- and third-generation foreigners.

Health reform

The People’s Party was also defeated in two other nationwide votes on Sunday.

The electorate rejected plans for a reform of the health system aimed at strengthening the role of the insurance sector and curbing health expenditure.

The proposal was approved by the government and parliament, but only two of the four main parties, including the People’s Party, campaigned for the reform.

Doctors and patients organisations as well as the cantonal authorities had warned that the move would increase costs for patients and end unrestricted access to doctors.

Switzerland is known for the high quality of its health system, but it is also among the most expensive in the world.

The third ballot saw three out of four voters come out against a plan to limit the amount of information issued by the federal authorities ahead of nationwide ballots.

Launched by a conservative group and supported by the People’s Party, the proposal came in response to what was considered excessive “government propaganda” over foreign policy, including United Nations membership and relations with the EU over the past 15 years.

swissinfo, Urs Geiser

Key facts

Citizenship: 36.2% yes; 63.8% no
Health reform: 30.5% yes; 69.5% no
Government information: 24.8% yes; 75.2% no

Turnout: 44.1%

Naturalisation

Foreign residents must wait at least 12 years to be eligible to apply for naturalisation.

Foreigners married to Swiss nationals can take advantage of a simplified procedure, reducing the number of years they have to wait.

Successful applicants must show that they are integrated into Swiss society, comply with Swiss law and pose no threat to internal or external security.

The cantonal and local authorities are responsible for naturalisation procedures, either by public assembly or by a special panel.

In 2003 the Federal Court banned the use of the ballot box to decide on citizenship applications, saying rejected candidates must have a right of appeal.