Committee launches campaign against “Stop compulsory vaccination” initiative
Published: Friday, May 3rd 2024, 13:41
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An unnecessary referendum with unforeseeable consequences: In the eyes of the "No" committee, this is the "Stop compulsory vaccination" initiative that the people and cantons will be voting on on June 9. The non-partisan committee presented its arguments on Friday.
The referendum is unnecessary because in Switzerland its core concern, physical integrity, has long been a fundamental constitutional right. This is what the No Committee wrote in a press release for its media appearance in Bern. Even today, no one is allowed to be vaccinated without their consent.
The No Committee goes on to say that a temporary compulsory vaccination for certain groups of people would also rule out such a compulsory vaccination. According to the Epidemics Act, a compulsory vaccination would be possible in absolutely exceptional situations.
Temporarily, for example, unvaccinated staff would not be able to work in certain areas of a hospital. However, there has never been such an obligation. The official name of the initiative is "For freedom and physical integrity (stop compulsory vaccination initiative)".
Blood sampling by police no longer possible
The No Committee is headed by members of the National Council from the SP, FDP, Center Party, Greens and GLP. The opponents go on to say that the initiative would have unforeseeable consequences because it is vaguely worded. The word "vaccinate" does not appear. Instead, the initiators demanded that interventions in physical and mental integrity should not be carried out without the consent of those affected.
Speaking to the media, National Councillor Patricia von Falkenstein (LDP/BS) said that a yes vote to the initiative would lead to legal uncertainty in various areas. For example, the police would no longer be able to pat down suspects without their consent. Blood samples to determine alcohol content would also no longer be possible.
According to the speech text, Aargau Central National Councillor Maya Bally also pointed out that voters had clearly approved official measures to protect against the coronavirus pandemic several times at the ballot box. The committee therefore also speaks of an outdated initiative.
Launched by the Freedom Party
The initiative, which was submitted in December 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic, calls for the fundamental right to be able to decide for oneself without suffering professional or social disadvantages or being fined. Article 10 of the Federal Constitution, which regulates the right to life and personal freedom, is to be amended.
In particular, everyone should have the right to physical and mental integrity and freedom of movement. The initiators want to ban mandatory vaccination that can be enforced directly or indirectly, but not only. The right to physical integrity should apply to vaccines, to chips and to digital information in the body.
The initiative was launched by the Freedom Movement Switzerland (FBS). The initiative committee includes former Lucerne SVP National Councillor Yvette Estermann, comedian Marco Rima and vaccination critic Daniel Trappitsch. The Mass-Voll movement, which is critical of the measures, is also campaigning for a Yes vote.
The Federal Council and the Federal Assembly recommended that the initiative be rejected. In Parliament, the initiative only received support from the SVP parliamentary group. Voices from the SVP also called in vain for a counter-proposal in the National Council.
©Keystone/SDA
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