Council of States wants to allow Swiss coat of arms on national team jerseys
Published: Wednesday, Jun 12th 2024, 12:30
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Swiss national teams should be allowed to legally wear the Swiss coat of arms on their shirts in future. The Council of States has adopted a motion to amend the Coat of Arms Protection Act accordingly.
On Wednesday, it approved a motion by Lucerne FDP member of the Council of States Damian Müller. The motion was prompted by the latest performances of the Swiss national ice hockey team.
She appeared with the Swiss coat of arms on her jersey. According to Müller, the association was made aware of the improper use of the crest back in 2018. The case is currently before the Federal Administrative Court.
The Federal Council asked the Council to reject the motion. The sports associations are free to use the Swiss cross on their jerseys, but not the coat of arms. According to the Federal Council, the use of the Swiss cross on the coat of arms is reserved for the Swiss Confederation.
The Coat of Arms Protection Act protects communities in the use of their national emblems. At the same time, it protects against misleading misuse of symbols. In 2017, the corresponding provision was adopted almost unanimously by the Federal Assembly, the national government wrote to the Council of States.
However, Müller told the Council that the use of the Swiss coat of arms by the national ice hockey team was "certainly not an abuse". "Let us correct this omission". By 28 votes to 10 with two abstentions, the Council of States approved the motion, which still has to go to the National Council.
A motion with the same title by Matthias Aebischer (SP/BE) is already pending there.
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