Swiss referendums, 2013

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Eleven referendums were held at the national level in Switzerland during 2013. Voters approved six proposals related to spatial planning, executive pay, family policy, amendments to the laws on asylum and epidemics and an increase in the length of petrol station shop opening hours. The other five proposals on directly electing the Federal Council, abolishing compulsory military service, limiting salaries in a company to 12 times the lowest paid worker, tax credits for stay-at-home parents and an increase in road tax were rejected.

March referendums

The first three national referendums in 2013 were held on 3 March, with voters asked whether they supported a federal order on family policy, an amendment to the federal law on spatial planning,^[1] and a popular initiative on executive pay that would introduce binding shareholder votes on salary levels,^[2] as well as banning golden hellos for new employees and golden parachutes for departing staff.^[3] The family policy question was approved by a majority of voters, but rejected by a majority of cantons.^[4] The planning question was approved by a majority of voters and did not require a cantonal majority.^[5] The executive pay initiative was approved by around two-thirds of voters and all cantons.^[6]

Proposals

Family policy

On 15 June 2012 a federal order was passed on family planning. It would make an amendment to the Swiss Constitution requiring the federal government to work with cantonal governments to promote work–life balance and improve the provision of day care, as well as ensuring the needs of families are considered in government policies.^[1]

Planning

On 15 June 2012 an amendment to the federal law on spatial planning was passed, which limited the amount of land available to communities for development purposes to that equivalent needed for the next fifteen years. It also introduced a 20% tax rate on land transactions for owners of land for development.^[1]

Executive pay

The proposals were conceived by Thomas Minder, who launched a campaign in 2008 following significant losses at UBS, which were blamed on a bonus culture leading to excessive risk-taking by managers.^[3] They would amend legislation to:^[7]

• require an annual vote by shareholders for the president and other members of the management board of directors, members of the remuneration committee, and any advisory board and executive officers of the organisation.
• require the articles of association to include bonus schemes and pay plans for directors and executive officers, any loans granted to such employees, the number of mandates outside the organisation, and the duration of employment contracts of executive officers.
• ban advance and severance packages.
• ban corporate proxy and the representation of shareholders by depository banks.
• require pension funds to disclose the way it votes, and to vote in the interests of pension policyholders.

Polls in January 2013 suggested that a majority was in favour of the proposals,^[3] although they were opposed by the Economiesuisse business lobby and the Swiss government.^[3][8] Supporters of the initiative spent 200,000 Swiss Francs, while opponents spent 8 million Swiss Francs in their campaign to block reform.^[9][10]

Electoral system

Eleven cantons allowed overseas voters to vote online after the Federal Council approved the method in December 2012.^[11]

Results

June referendums

Two referendums were held on 9 June on a popular initiative on introducing direct elections to the Federal Council, and on amendments to the Asylum Act.^[12]

Proposals

Asylum law amendments

The changes to the Asylum Law would give the Federal government increased powers to speed up the process. It would also abolish the right to apply for asylum at Swiss embassies overseas, as well as excluding conscientious objectors and deserters from applying.^[13]

The proposals were opposed by left-wing parties, trade unions, human rights groups and church groups. Prior to the referendum, opinion polls showed support for the proposals at 57%.^[13] The changes to the law were ultimately approved by almost 80% of voters.^[14]

Direct election of the Federal Council

The proposal for direct election of the Federal Council, which would involve amending the Swiss Federal Constitution, was put forward by the Swiss People's Party. Opinion polls in late May showed 66% of voters opposed.^[13] The proposal was ultimately rejected by 76% of voters.^[15]

Results

September referendums

Three federal referendums were held on 22 September 2013.^[16] The abolition of compulsory military service was rejected, whilst an amendment to epidemia law and an increase in the opening hours of petrol station shops were both approved.

Results

November referendums

Three referendums were held on 24 November on a proposed increase in road tax,^[17] limiting the highest salary in a company to twelve times the lowest salary,^[18] and tax credits for stay-at-home parents.^[19] All three were rejected by voters.

Results

References

Elections and referendums in Switzerland
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Referendums	1798 1802 1848 1866 1872 1874 1875 1876 1877 1879 1880 1882 1884 1885 1887 1889 1890 1891 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1900 1902 1903 1905 1906 1907 1908 1910 1912 1913 1914 1915 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1933 1934 1935 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016