“Stop compulsory vaccination” initiative: the most important facts about the proposal in brief
Published: Friday, Apr 5th 2024, 10:10
Updated At: Sunday, Jun 9th 2024, 05:01
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This Sunday, the people and cantons will decide on the popular initiative "For freedom and physical integrity (Stop Compulsory Vaccination Initiative)" submitted by vaccination sceptics. Here is a brief summary of the most important aspects of the proposal:
The initial situation
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the so-called certificate requirement applied at times. Without proof of vaccination, a negative test or recovery from the disease, access to restaurants, bars, cinemas and theaters, public events and fitness centers was not permitted.
The Epidemics Act provides for mandatory vaccination as an option, but only for certain groups and on condition that the population cannot be protected with milder and other measures. However, even in the case of mandatory vaccination, the person concerned must consent to the vaccination.
Restrictions for unvaccinated people are possible - for example, to avoid stricter measures such as closures and event bans. If fundamental rights are restricted, this must be proportionate and there must be a public interest in doing so.
This is what the initiative
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. Interventions in physical and mental integrity should not be permitted without the consent of the person concerned. The amendment must be implemented no later than one year after the initiative is adopted, from June 9, 2025.
The initiators want to ban a directly or indirectly enforceable vaccination obligation, but not only that. The right to physical integrity should apply to vaccines, chips and digital information in the body.
The initiative committee/the supporters
The initiative was launched by the Freedom Movement Switzerland (FBS) based in Ostermundigen BE. In addition to FBS President Richard Koller, the committee includes former Lucerne SVP National Councillor Yvette Estermann, comedian Marco Rima and vaccination critic Daniel Trappitsch. In the past, he fought against the Animal Diseases Act and the Epidemics Act. The Mass-Voll movement, which is critical of the measures, is also campaigning for a Yes vote.
The current developments regarding vaccine damage show that the Federal Council and politicians cannot be trusted. An initiative is the only way to stop the "pharma-oriented policy". Every person must be able to decide freely and without fear what goes into their body, i.e. a vaccination or a chip. Neither politicians, the pharmaceutical industry nor international organizations should be able to decide.
The opponents
The Federal Council and the Federal Assembly recommended that the initiative be rejected. In Parliament, it only received support from the SVP parliamentary group. Voices from the SVP also called in vain for a counter-proposal in the National Council. In the eyes of opponents, the initiative text goes far beyond vaccination. The state's monopoly on the use of force would also be affected.
If the initiative is approved, the police would no longer be able to arrest suspects without their consent, for example, the Federal Council wrote in response to the initiative. The National Council also argued that there were major uncertainties in the protection of adults. Opponents in parliament also argued that no one should be vaccinated against their will.
According to the voting polls at the end of May, the initiative has no chance. In the survey conducted on behalf of SRG, 74% of respondents said they would rather or definitely reject it and 22% would rather or definitely accept it. In the Tamedia/"20 Minuten" survey, the initiative received 23% yes votes and 72% no votes.
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