Health initiatives fail due to financial fears
Published: Friday, Jul 26th 2024, 11:30
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In the June 9 referendum on the health initiatives, financial policy considerations shaped voter behavior. This is shown by an analysis by the research institute gfs.bern.
The premium relief initiative has not managed to mobilize beyond the left-wing spectrum - even though it has been the subject of much discussion in the media, according to a statement from the research institute on Friday.
Although the cost problem in the healthcare system was widely recognized among the voters, the No votes were based on financial policy rationality. Many feared that implementing the proposal would be too expensive. There was also criticism that the initiative ignored the causes of cost growth.
The cost brake initiative also failed to convince the majority of voters. No subgroup of the electorate was clearly in favor of the project - not even sympathizers of the initiating centrist party.
The counter-arguments show that the linking of healthcare to economic development was not welcomed by the voters. There were also fears of a deterioration in the healthcare system as a result of the cost brake.
Greater turnout at the poles
According to gfs.bern, voter turnout on June 9 was average in a long-term comparison at around 45%. Voters at the political poles took part in the votes more than people in the political center. Decisions were made on four proposals: the Premium Relief Initiative, the Cost Brake Initiative, the Freedom Initiative and the Electricity Act.
The proposals were of varying importance to the electorate: the Electricity Act achieved a high score, while the personal importance of the Freedom Initiative was low. The premium relief and cost brake initiatives were in between. The cost brake was the most difficult proposal to understand, so opinion was formed later than for the other proposals.
The so-called Vox analysis is financed by the Federal Chancellery. The survey has been conducted online and on paper questionnaires since November 2020. Previously, the data was collected by telephone from 1,500 voters at a time. I
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