Schaffhausen voters decide on new Axpo contracts
Published: Sunday, Aug 18th 2024, 04:50
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The Schaffhausen electorate will vote on the new Axpo contracts today, Sunday - if they vote no, the joint project of nine cantons is in danger of failing. They will also decide on a deputy regulation for members of the cantonal council.
The fact that Axpo needs new contracts is politically undisputed. Even the committee that launched the referendum considers it necessary to replace "the outdated founding agreement" from 1914.
However, the committee considers the current draft with the shareholders' agreement, owner strategy and articles of association to be completely unsuitable. The agreements offer no protection against foreign takeovers, it criticizes. There is a threat of privatization and a loss of democratic control over the energy supply.
The cantonal government and the cantonal council, which clearly backed the agreements by 51 votes to 1, do not share this fear: the cantons would commit to holding a minimum stake of 51%. The majority of the shares would therefore remain in Swiss public hands.
If Schaffhausen votes no, the efforts of the owner cantons over the past eight years would be nullified, according to the voting magazine. Axpo would be considerably weakened by the lack of necessary strategic flexibility. "This is not in the interests of the canton"
Substitute solution for the cantonal council
In a second bill, Schaffhausen voters will decide on a deputy regulation for cantonal councillors. As part of its major debate on "strengthening the militia parliament", the cantonal council voted relatively narrowly in favor of its introduction by 32 votes to 23.
If a member of the Cantonal Council is unable to perform their duties for an extended period of time due to illness, a stay abroad, maternity or other reasons, they should be able to be replaced by the first unelected person on the same electoral list. A deputy would only be considered for absences of between three and nine months.
The majority of the Cantonal Council hopes that this will improve the compatibility of family, career and office and reduce the number of early resignations. The minority fears that the efficiency of the Council will suffer. Temporary members would not have the necessary expertise.
©Keystone/SDA
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