2024 Swiss referendums
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March 2024 Swiss referendums | ||
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| Initiative for a 13th OASI pension payment | ||
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| Pensions Initiative (retirement age) | ||
| Maps | ||
Results by canton Yes 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% No 50–60% 60–70% 80–90% | ||
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Several referendums were held in Switzerland during 2024. National votes were held on 3 March, 9 June, and 22 September, and others were held on 24 November.[1]
March referendums
[edit]Two national referendums were held on 3 March 2024. Both were related to the pension system.
- The "Initiative for a 13th OASI pension payment", proposed to add a 13th month of pension.[2]
- The "Pensions Initiative (retirement age)" aimed to increase the retirement age this year, and raise it automatically every year.[3]
The Swiss government recommended voters to reject both referendums, however polls showed voters were likely to accept the first initiative and reject the second,[4] which was also the final result.[5]
Results
[edit]| Question | For | Against | Invalid/ blank |
Total votes |
Registered voters |
Turnout | Outcome | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Cantons | Votes | % | Cantons | ||||||||
| Initiative for a 13th OASI pension payment | 1,884,096 | 58.25 | 14+2⁄2 | 1,350,325 | 41.75 | 6+4⁄2 | 28,758 | 3,263,179 | 5,591,446 | 58.36 | Approved | ||
| Pensions Initiative (retirement age) | 808,578 | 25.25 | 0 | 2,393,930 | 74.75 | 20+6⁄2 | 47,547 | 3,250,055 | 58.13 | Rejected | |||
| Source: Federal Chancellery[6] | |||||||||||||
June referendums
[edit]Four referendum votes were held on 9 June 2024; two were regarding health insurance premiums, one regarding vaccinations, and one against a recent law concerning sustainable energy.[7]
Results
[edit]| Question | For | Against | Invalid/ blank |
Total votes |
Registered voters |
Turnout | Outcome | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Cantons | Votes | % | Cantons | ||||||||
| Premium Relief Initiative | 1,116,910 | 44.53 | 7+1⁄2 | 1,391,413 | 55.47 | 13+5⁄2 | 45.42 | Rejected | |||||
| Cost-Brake Initiative | 927,322 | 37.23 | 5+0⁄2 | 1,563,379 | 62.77 | 15+6⁄2 | 45.37 | Rejected | |||||
| Initiative for Freedom and Physical Integrity | 654,996 | 26.27 | 0+0⁄2 | 1,838,538 | 73.73 | 20+6⁄2 | 45.34 | Rejected | |||||
| Federal Act on Secure Electricity Supply from Renewable Energy Sources | 1,717,387 | 68.72 | 20+6⁄2 | 781,769 | 31.28 | 0+0⁄2 | 45.39 | Approved | |||||
| Source: Federal Chancellery[8] | |||||||||||||
September referendums
[edit]Two national referendums were held on 22 September 2024 to vote on a reform of occupational pension schemes and a biodiversity initiative.[9][10]
The reform of occupational pension schemes was supported by the government and opposed by the left-wing parties and trade unions.[11][12] The biodiversity initiative had been tabled by nature and environmental protection associations, and opposed by a broad alliance of the main right-wing and centrist parties, farming circles and economic organisations.[11]
Both referendums were rejected by voters.[13][14]
Results
[edit]| Question | For | Against | Invalid/ blank |
Total votes |
Registered voters |
Turnout | Outcome | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Cantons | Votes | % | Cantons | ||||||||
| Biodiversity Initiative | 926,159 | 36.97 | 1+1⁄2 | 1,579,316 | 63.03 | 19+5⁄2 | 45.19 | Rejected | |||||
| Occupational Pension Reform | 810,777 | 32.88 | 0+0⁄2 | 1,655,316 | 67.12 | 20+6⁄2 | 45.04 | Rejected | |||||
| Source: Federal Chancellery[15] | |||||||||||||
November referendums
[edit]Four referendums[16] took place on 24 November, including one on three new motorways and tunnel expansions, one on changes to rental contracts, one on a decision by parliament to fix rates at which cantons can fund healthcare.[17] A referendum was also held in Basel-Stadt whether to approve the grant of 34.96 million Swiss francs ($39.5 million) by cantonal authorities for the hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel.[18]
Results showed negative results for additional road infrastructure and rent changes, while approving changes to healthcare funding.[19] The cantonal referendum in Basel also passed with 66.4% of voters in favour.[20]
| Question | For | Against | Invalid/ blank |
Total votes |
Registered voters |
Turnout | Outcome | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Cantons | Votes | % | Cantons | ||||||||
| Expansion programme for the national highways | 1,181,557 | 47.30 | 7+4⁄2 | 1,316,500 | 52.70 | 13+2⁄2 | 45.05 | Rejected | |||||
| Tenancy Law: Subletting | 1,196,640 | 48.42 | 11+5⁄2 | 1,274,814 | 51.58 | 9+1⁄2 | 44.89 | Rejected | |||||
| Tenancy Law: Termination to permit personal use | 1,141,741 | 46.17 | 10+4⁄2 | 1,331,128 | 53.83 | 10+2⁄2 | 44.90 | Rejected | |||||
| Health Insurance Act: Standardised financing of benefits | 1,302,528 | 53.31 | 14+6⁄2 | 1,140,791 | 46.69 | 6+0⁄2 | 44.87 | Approved | |||||
| Source: Federal Chancellery[21] | |||||||||||||
References
[edit]- ^ "Blank voting dates". Federal Chancellery.
- ^ Swiss Federal Council. "Initiative for a 13th OASI pension payment". Retrieved 2024-03-02.
- ^ Swiss Federal Council. "Pensions Initiative (retirement age)". Retrieved 2024-03-02.
- ^ Romy, Katy (2024-02-21). "March 3 vote poll: backing for pension boost crumbles". SWI swissinfo.ch. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
- ^ Bradley, Simon (2024-03-03). "Swiss vote: 'yes' to higher pensions, 'no' to retiring later". SWI swissinfo.ch. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
- ^ "Volksabstimmung vom 03.03.2024" [Referendum on 3 March 2024] (in German).
- ^ "Swiss to vote on four issues on June 9". swissinfo.ch. January 31, 2024.
- ^ "Volksabstimmung vom 09.06.2024" [Referendum on 9 June 2024] (in German).
- ^ "Swiss to vote on pension reform and biodiversity in September". SWI swissinfo.ch. 2024-05-15. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
- ^ "Swiss to vote on pension reform and biodiversity in September". Le News. 2024-05-17. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
- ^ a b "Swiss federal votes on September 22". SWI swissinfo.ch. 2024-08-09. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
- ^ "Swiss trade unions argue against pension reform". Le News. 2024-07-05. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
- ^ "Swiss voters reject plan to boost biodiversity, vote against pension reform". France 24. 2024-09-22. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ "Swiss voters reject biodiversity, pension reforms". dw.com. 2024-09-22. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ "Volksabstimmung vom 22.09.2024" [Referendum on 22 September 2024] (in German).
- ^ "Popular vote on 24 November 2024". The Federal Council. 2024-10-09. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ "Next round of Swiss referenda announced". Le News. 2024-06-28. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ "Swiss region to vote on cost of 'blasphemous' Eurovision 2025". France 24. 2024-11-21. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
- ^ "Seven lessons from the November 2024 Swiss referendums". SWI. 2024-11-24. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
- ^ "Eurovision 2025: Basel votes yes to funding song contest". Euronews. 2024-11-24. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
- ^ "Volksabstimmung vom 24.11.2024" [Referendum on 24 November 2024] (in German).
