The Swiss government’s proposal to allow the public to vote separately on the EU framework agreements and the new electricity agreement has sparked debate and raised concerns among citizens. This move gives voters more options but also presents a potential dilemma for some.
The Swiss-EU Relationship
The Swiss populace is likely to have the final say on matters concerning Europe. Discussions revolve not only around the contents of the agreements with the EU but also the rules governing future referendums. The key question at hand is whether a majority vote or a cantonal majority should be required for approval. It comes as no surprise that those in favor of the agreements prefer a lower threshold, while opponents advocate for a higher one. Such is the nature of politics.
Separation of Proposals
Less attention has been paid to the consequences of the Federal Council’s proposed division of the proposals. The plan includes a federal resolution to update existing Swiss-EU agreements, primarily derived from the "Bilateral I" agreements. This resolution is referred to as the "base package." Additionally, three other federal resolutions are earmarked for new sectoral agreements: electricity, food safety, and health.
The EU has made it clear that the new agreements are contingent on Switzerland’s approval of the base package. Consequently, Swiss referendums will be unilaterally linked: while it is possible to have the base package without the new agreements, the new agreements are not possible without the base package.
Citizens’ Speculation
The proposed separation of the referendums provides citizens with more options. They can approve the base package while rejecting one or more of the additional agreements. This is particularly relevant in the context of the electricity agreement. Labor unions appear to support the base package but express reservations about the electricity agreement due to concerns about consumer choice between local providers and the open market.
However, the separate votes, coupled with the one-sided linkage, may put certain voters in a predicament, limiting their voting freedom. This dilemma arises for individuals who support the electricity agreement, prefer to reject the base package, but accept the base package as a necessary evil to secure the electricity agreement. These voters do not know the outcome of the electricity agreement at the time of the referendum, as all proposals are likely to be put before the public on the same day.
Challenges of the Additional Question
One potential solution is to first vote on the new agreements and then on the base package at a later date. However, this approach poses challenges in terms of voting efficiency (increased costs and time requirements for two voting dates) and communication difficulties (a public approval of the electricity agreement might become irrelevant if the base package is rejected).
Another theoretical solution could involve introducing an additional option for citizens in the base package vote: alongside yes and no, there could be a "conditional yes" option, stating, "I only support the base package if the electricity agreement is approved." Conditional yes votes for the base package would only count if the electricity agreement is accepted.
While such a process could better reflect the will of the people, it would also require significant clarification—especially considering that, in addition to the electricity agreement, two other new agreements are up for debate. Moreover, the Swiss Federal Constitution currently does not allow for "variant votes" or "additional questions," except for tie-breaker questions in referendums on popular initiatives and counterproposals.
Expert Insights
Political scientist Lukas Golder from the GfS Bern research institute suggests that introducing a conditional yes option would increase complexity and the risk of citizen misunderstandings. He argues that simple voting procedures are more easily understood and therefore have higher legitimacy. Despite the complexities of issues like the EU agreements, direct democracy with straightforward voting methods is best suited to reflect the will of the people.
In conclusion, while the Swiss government’s proposal to split the referendums offers more choices to voters, it also presents challenges and potential dilemmas. The need for clear communication and transparency in the voting process is crucial to ensure that citizens can make informed decisions on complex issues like the Swiss-EU relationship and the electricity agreement.