Federal vote on the waiver of the introduction of the general popular initiative

In the federal vote on the renunciation of the introduction of the general popular initiative , the Swiss voters voted on September 27, 2009 on the renunciation of the introduction of the general people's initiative . The matter for the vote is the federal resolution on the waiver of the introduction of the general popular initiative of December 19, 2008. Since it provides for a constitutional amendment, the federal resolution is subject to the mandatory referendum .

The federal resolution was adopted with 67.9% yes-votes to 32.1%, which means that the introduction of the general popular initiative is dispensed with.

history

On February 9, 2003, the Swiss people accepted the introduction of the general popular initiative. With this it was now possible to suggest changes to the constitution as well as to legislative changes. If such a general popular initiative is adopted, Parliament must determine the appropriate legal stage and work out the amendment to the law. The new popular law has not yet come into force because the treatment of a general popular initiative first had to be specified in an executive law. With the dispatch of May 31, 2006, the Federal Council submitted the draft for this implementing legislation to parliament. This turned out to be very complex because of the bicameral parliament.

Given its complexity, the State Political Commission came to the conclusion that the new popular law was not practical. The Commission feared that if a general popular initiative were submitted, the expectations of the initiators could not be met, which would weaken the credibility of the political institutions. Another problem is the margin of discretion that Parliament has when implementing a legislative proposal. The duration of the procedure is also a problem, as it could take around seven years from the submission of the initiative to the adoption of the implementation decree.

The Commission therefore submitted a parliamentary initiative on September 15, 2006. She calls for a federal resolution that reverses the introduction of the general popular initiative. On September 25, 2008, the National Council debated the parliamentary initiative. It was accepted with a single vote against by National Councilor Ruedi Lustenberger . The Council of States debated it on December 1, 2008 and voted unanimously in favor. In the final vote on December 19, 2008, both councils voted in favor, with one vote against in both councils.

Voting text

The federal constitution is amended as follows:

Art. 139 Popular initiative for a partial revision of the Federal Constitution

100,000 voters can request a partial revision of the federal constitution within 18 months of the official publication of their initiative.
The popular initiative for a partial revision of the Federal Constitution can take the form of a general suggestion or an elaborated draft.
If the initiative violates the unity of form, the unity of matter or mandatory provisions of international law, the Federal Assembly shall declare it invalid in whole or in part.
If the Federal Assembly agrees to an initiative in the form of a general suggestion, it will work out the partial revision in accordance with the initiative and submit it to the people and the cantons for a vote. If it rejects the initiative, it shall submit it to the people for a vote; the people decide whether the initiative is to be followed. If it agrees, the Federal Assembly will work out a corresponding template.
An initiative in the form of the elaborated draft is submitted to the people and the cantons for voting. The Federal Assembly recommends the initiative for acceptance or rejection. It can counter the initiative with an alternative proposal.

Art. 139a

Canceled

Art. 139b para. 1

Those entitled to vote vote simultaneously on the initiative and the counter-draft.

Art. 140 para. 2 let. a ^to and b

The following are put to the vote:

a ^to . Canceled

b. the popular initiatives for a partial revision of the Federal Constitution in the form of a general suggestion that have been rejected by the Federal Assembly;

Art. 156 para. 3 let. b and c