According to Watson.ch, Rösti’s concerns fell on deaf ears
Published: Sunday, Nov 24th 2024, 19:50
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Transport Minister Albert Rösti's mantra-like claim that the expansion will benefit the surrounding communities and regions has fallen on deaf ears, according to the news portal Watson.ch. The realization that more roads simply mean more traffic has prevailed. The loss of cultivated land is also likely to have contributed to the "no" vote.
"Eight years after the Yes vote for the second Gotthard tunnel, the car lobby has landed on the hard shoulder. This was hardly to be expected beforehand. Nevertheless, the result is not surprising; it confirms the trend of recent polls. The attempt by the bourgeoisie and car associations to mobilize their clientele with a final push was a flop. (...) The supporters did not expect this failure. In initial reactions, they interpreted the No vote as a protest against the high level of immigration. However, the bill was rejected by a majority of women, while men voted in favor. This suggests that the No vote is primarily an expression of increasing skepticism about growth. This is supported by the fact that the cities of Basel, Schaffhausen and St. Gallen clearly rejected the tunnel projects that were intended to relieve them. (...) The search for solutions will not get any easier, not even for Albert Rösti, who was dealt his first defeat by voters since his election to the Federal Council."
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