Canton of Eastern Switzerland

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The creation of a canton Eastern Switzerland is a proposal that occasionally in the mass media and in the policy of Switzerland is discussed.

Reasons and reservations

When the demand for a “super canton ” in Eastern Switzerland comes from the regionally dominant canton of St. Gallen , as was usually the case in the past, the other cantons in Eastern Switzerland quickly suspect that St. Gallen has “imperialist” ambitions. In the two small Appenzell cantons in particular , there is a strong will for self-determination - also for historical reasons - which leads to reservations here. In some cases, however, other cantons are also beginning to encourage unification.

The main reasons for this are that there are too few say at the federal level and that the rest of Switzerland generally does not take enough notice of them and takes them seriously. Issues such as aircraft noise from Zurich Airport or health insurance contributions also led to the claims. Administrative structures should also be made more efficient through the merger. Another pro-argument is that the different sub-areas could support each other better this way.

formation

It is not clear which cantons would make up a new canton of Eastern Switzerland, but it is clear that the core Eastern Switzerland ( Thurgau , St. Gallen , Appenzell Innerrhoden and Appenzell Ausserrhoden ) would be included. Other possible parts are the canton of Schaffhausen , Graubünden and Glarus . Possible names for the new canton would be the canton of Eastern Switzerland or the canton of Lake Constance . In view of the historical background, a revival of the canton of Säntis by name could also be considered.

Reactions

politics

Supporting voices came particularly from the left-wing camp ( SP ), and to a limited extent from the conservative SVP . The bourgeois camp ( CVP and FDP ) seems to be more opposed to the idea, and parts of the conservatives are also against the creation of a canton in Eastern Switzerland.

population

Above all, the population of the canton of St. Gallen seems to be open to the idea after initial explorations, which is also due to the fact that St. Gallen would most likely become the capital of the new canton; The canton of St. Gallen , the eastern Swiss canton with the highest number of inhabitants, would also exercise the greatest influence on the politics of the new canton.

Opposing voices can be heard mainly from the Appenzellerland , which would lose importance in a unified Eastern Switzerland, partly also from the Thurgau, especially from its western part, which sees itself as an integral part of the metropolitan region of Zurich . Another counter-argument is that the different mentalities of the individual canton's populations cannot be thrown together.

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