The package of agreements envisaged between Switzerland and the European Union (EU) should be subject to a simple majority of the people, without a majority of the cantons is necessary, the government recommended on Wednesday.
The use of the so -called optional referendum for international treaties makes it possible to “guarantee continuity and political coherence and gives parliament as well as in cantons a room for maneuver”, said the Federal Council.
“In other words, the government wants to fix the bar as low as possible for the package of agreements to pass the referendum ramp,” analyzed Swiss public television SRF, suggesting that the trade war launched by Donald Trump was pushing the Swiss government to recognize the importance of reliable relations with the EU.
-Opponents are currently collecting signatures in order to submit these agreements to a popular vote demanding both the majority of the people and that of the cantons.
“It is shocking to see how we want to undermine our direct democracy,” said Thomas Aeschi, head of the parliamentary group of the Center Democratic Union (UDC, conservative right). The other parties do not see any problem. The national socialist advisor Eric Nussbaumer recalled on X (formerly Twitter) that all the agreements concluded so far with the EU had been subject only to a popular majority.
The last word on the referendum mode to be applied will return to Parliament.
