Paternity leave, fighter jets on ballot as Swiss vote
The Swiss will vote on a number of issues Sunday, which range from curbing immigration from the EU to purchasing new fighter jets and offering new fathers paid leave.
Here is an overview of the primary issues on the ballot.
- EU migrant curbs -
The initiative, backed by the populist rightwing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) and opposed by the federal government, argues that non-EU member Switzerland is facing “uncontrolled and excessive immigration”.
It calls on Bern to rip up a 1999 agreement with Brussels on the free movement of folks between Switzerland and the bloc.
Opinion polls indicate voters will probably reject the initiative over fears that it might throw Swiss relations with its biggest trading partner into disarray and hurt the Swiss economy.
- Fighter jets -
Switzerland has for greater than a decade been caught in a political battle over whether to displace its ageing fleet of fighter jets.
In 2014, the country looked set to acquire 22 Gripen E fighter jets from Swedish group Saab, and then see the persons vote against releasing the funds necessary for the multi-billion-dollar deal.
Bern insists Switzerland must upgrade its fleet.
The country’s F/A-18s will reach the end of their lifespan in 2030, while its even older fleet of F-5 Tiger jets are not even equipped for night flights.
To treatment the problem, the federal government has proposed releasing up to 6 billion Swiss francs ($6.5 billion, 5.6 billion euros) for a fresh fleet of jets.
The Swiss parliament has recently given its stamp of approval, however the people will have the ultimate word Sunday, with opinion polls hinting the initiative should pass.
Opponents insist the tiny land-locked country, which includes not seen armed conflict for centuries, has no dependence on “luxury fighter jets”, and should instead focus its resources on new threats like cyberattacks and climate change.
Supporters meanwhile insist Switzerland must defend its airspace, to defend against attacks and to protect large international events like those organised at the United Nations’ European headquarters in Geneva.
- Paternity leave -
Switzerland, which didn't grant women the right to vote until 1971, is known as quite traditional regarding family models, but still lags behind much of Europe in terms of parental leave.
The country introduced 14 weeks of paid maternity leave in 2005, but nonetheless offers no paternity leave.
In September last year, the Swiss parliament gave the green light to providing new fathers with fourteen days of paid leave.
But the populist rightwing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) and others opposed the decision and collected the necessary number of signatures to place the problem to the people.
If the initiative is accepted, those taking paternity leave would have the same 80 percent of their salary, up to ceiling of 196 Swiss francs per day, that mothers receive while on maternity leave.
Fathers could thus make a maximum of 2,744 Swiss francs ($3,000, 2,550 euros) throughout their fourteen days of leave.
All political parties except the SVP support the text, and recent judgment polls indicate a lot more than 60 percent support among the general public.
- Hunting law reform -
Voters are also being asked to back a revision of Switzerland’s hunting law, which parliament adopted last September in response to a rapidly growing wolf population in the united states.
Like in other European countries, wolves are enjoying a revival in Switzerland, igniting a fierce debate between supporters and farmers who have lost livestock.
The revised law would ease hunting restrictions, but wolves would remain a protected species.
The current hunting law, which also covers the protection of wild species, goes back to 1986 - a period when not an individual wolf remained in Switzerland.
The predators began returning to the landlocked Alpine country in 1995, and their population has grown to around 80 individuals spread across eight packs.
Up to 500 sheep and goats are actually killed or maimed by wolves every year, according to official data.
The Swiss cantons can currently authorise the culling of a wolf once it's been determined that it is accountable for significant damage.
The revised law would supply the cantons more leeway to do something preventively, and kill the animals to avoid large livestock losses and ensure wolves remain fearful of humans.
Wildlife preservation groups gathered the signatures had a need to put the problem to the people, warning that the preventive culling of the creatures could jeopardise the species.
According to polls, the public appears split down the center on the issue.
