Parties Use Their Voting Potential Abroad Differently
Published: Friday, Aug 11th 2023, 08:40
Aktualisiert am: Freitag, 13. Oktober 2023, 14:12
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The number of Swiss citizens living abroad is increasing, and the major political parties are taking advantage of this potential voting power in the Swiss federal elections. The GLP and Mitte parties are planning to have Swiss abroad lists in several cantons, while the other parties are encouraging Swiss abroad to stand as candidates in Switzerland. The GLP has an international section with 70 members and is expanding its engagement with the fifth Switzerland. The Mitte party had a Swiss abroad list in Ticino in 2019 which helped to elect two Mitte national councillors. The Greens are planning to form an international section to focus on climate change, and the SVP, SP and FDP already have international sections. All parties are committed to issues important to Swiss abroad such as e-voting, e-government, e-ID, easier voting and abstaining from abroad, and the preservation of freedom of movement. There are currently over 800,000 Swiss abroad, with 220,000 registered to vote in Switzerland. Their votes can often be the deciding factor in foreign and open policy issues.nnnnnnnn
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