Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation will in future be punished in Switzerland. Another initiative fell through with the Confederates.
Bern (dpa) - The Swiss have voted with a clear majority for a ban on discrimination against lesbians, gays and bisexuals. In a referendum, a corresponding extension of the anti-racism punitive norm on Sunday was adopted according to the final result with 63.1 percent.
However, an initiative to promote affordable housing has failed. The initiators wanted, among other things, to ensure that at least ten percent of the newly built apartments should belong to non-profit developers and that municipalities would have a right of first refusal when selling building land.
Swiss people can either initiate a referendum against a passed law or propose their own laws by popular initiative. There are four voting dates every year. Since the introduction of the right of initiative in 1891, only ten percent of such popular initiatives have been adopted; almost 200 failed. A good five million residents are eligible to vote. The turnout fluctuates between 30 and 60 percent depending on the topic.
The clear yes for the prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation had been hinted at for a long time. So far, discrimination based on race, religion or ethnicity has been prohibited by the anti-racism punitive norm. Anyone who violates this risk a prison sentence of up to three years or a fine. The advocates of the ban on discrimination said on Sunday that the clear yes gave them a tailwind for other concerns such as same-sex marriage and easier gender recognition.
The "More affordable housing" initiative failed not least due to a negative attitude in the rural regions. In Basel (city) and Geneva, for example, the bill reached significant majorities, but failed overall. The initiative had already lost approval over the past few weeks.
The initiative was launched by the Swiss Tenants' Association and was supported by trade unions, housing, student and pensioner organizations, among others. In addition to the quota for new buildings and the right of first refusal for municipalities, the initiative also called for an end to massive rent increases if energetic renovations were implemented with federal funding.
In many places, cantonal initiatives and topics were also voted on on Sunday. For example, according to the preliminary results, the Geneva population refused to abolish dog tax. A majority were found after the first results for the initiative that from 2050 only environmentally friendly cars will be allowed to drive in the city of Basel. In the canton of Ticino, the proposal was rejected that the state should assume all court costs in the future after an act of self-defense.
Information about referendums in Switzerland
Swiss television SRF with final result on protection against discrimination