National Council against separate constituencies for Swiss abroad
Published: Monday, Apr 15th 2024, 18:50
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The Swiss abroad are not to have their own constituencies or their own representatives in the National Council. On Monday, the National Council rejected a motion calling for the constitution and laws to be amended accordingly.
It decided against a motion by Jean-Luc Addor (SVP/VS) by 152 votes to 30, with five abstentions. This motion would have demanded that the Swiss abroad be better represented in Switzerland's political institutions. The motion was rejected.
Around 227,000 of the approximately 800,000 Swiss citizens living abroad have registered in an electoral register, Addor explained his motion. In neighboring countries, citizens living abroad already have their own representation.
The Federal Council was also against separate constituencies for the fifth Switzerland. It wrote that councillors elected in the cantons could safeguard the interests of the Swiss abroad, for example via the "Parliamentary Group of the Swiss Abroad".
Through the 140-member Council of the Swiss Abroad, the fifth Switzerland is also indirectly represented in federal politics. This body brings the concerns of the Swiss abroad to the attention of the relevant authorities. Swiss citizens abroad can also stand for election to the National Council.
According to the Federal Council, a constituency for the fifth Switzerland would require a constitutional amendment. Separate constituencies would also generally call into question the allocation of voters abroad to a canton. This in turn would call into question the granting of political rights at cantonal level.
©Keystone/SDA
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