2013 Swiss referendums

Eleven national referendums were held in Switzerland during 2013. Voters approved six proposals related to spatial planning, executive pay, family policy, amendments to the laws on asylum and epidemics and an increase in the length of petrol station shop opening hours. The other five proposals on directly electing the Federal Council, abolishing compulsory military service, limiting salaries in a company to 12 times the lowest paid worker, tax credits for stay-at-home parents and an increase in road tax were rejected.

March referendums

The first three national referendums in 2013 were held on 3 March, with voters asked whether they supported a federal order on family policy, an amendment to the federal law on spatial planning,[1] and a popular initiative on executive pay that would introduce binding shareholder votes on salary levels,[2] as well as banning golden hellos for new employees and golden parachutes for departing staff.[3] The family policy question was approved by a majority of voters, but rejected by a majority of cantons.[4] The planning question was approved by a majority of voters and did not require a cantonal majority.[5] The executive pay initiative was approved by around two-thirds of voters and all cantons.[6]

Proposals

Family policy

On 15 June 2012 a federal order was passed on family planning. It would make an amendment to the Swiss Constitution requiring the federal government to work with cantonal governments to promote work–life balance and improve the provision of day care, as well as ensuring the needs of families are considered in government policies.[1]

Planning

On 15 June 2012 an amendment to the federal law on spatial planning was passed, which limited the amount of land available to communities for development purposes to that equivalent needed for the next fifteen years. It also introduced a 20% tax rate on land transactions for owners of land for development.[1]

Executive pay

The proposals were conceived by Thomas Minder, who launched a campaign in 2008 following significant losses at UBS, which were blamed on a bonus culture leading to excessive risk-taking by managers.[3] They would amend legislation to:[7]

• require an annual vote by shareholders for the president and other members of the management board of directors, members of the remuneration committee, and any advisory board and executive officers of the organisation.
• require the articles of association to include bonus schemes and pay plans for directors and executive officers, any loans granted to such employees, the number of mandates outside the organisation, and the duration of employment contracts of executive officers.
• ban advance and severance packages.
• ban corporate proxy and the representation of shareholders by depository banks.
• require pension funds to disclose the way it votes, and to vote in the interests of pension policyholders.

Polls in January 2013 suggested that a majority was in favour of the proposals,[3] although they were opposed by the Economiesuisse business lobby and the Swiss government.[3][8] Supporters of the initiative spent 200,000 Swiss Francs, while opponents spent 8 million Swiss Francs in their campaign to block reform.[9][10]

Electoral system

Eleven cantons allowed overseas voters to vote online after the Federal Council approved the method in December 2012.[11]

Results

Question	For		Against		Invalid/ blank	Total votes	Registered voters	Turnout	Cantons for		Cantons against		Result
	Votes	%	Votes	%					Full	Half	Full	Half
Family policy	1,283,951	54.35	1,078,531	45.65	49,613	2,412,095	5,174,680	46.61	9	2	11	4	Rejected
Planning	1,476,942	62.89	871,514	37.11	58,331	2,406,787		46.51					Accepted
Executive pay	1,616,184	67.96	761,975	32.04	40,666	2,418,825		46.74	20	6	0	0	Accepted
Source: Direct Democracy

June referendums

Two referendums were held on 9 June on a popular initiative on introducing direct elections to the Federal Council, and on amendments to the Asylum Act.[12]

Proposals

Asylum law amendments

The changes to the Asylum Law would give the Federal government increased powers to speed up the process. It would also abolish the right to apply for asylum at Swiss embassies overseas, as well as excluding conscientious objectors and deserters from applying.[13]

The proposals were opposed by left-wing parties, trade unions, human rights groups and church groups. Prior to the referendum, opinion polls showed support for the proposals at 57%.[13] The changes to the law were ultimately approved by almost 80% of voters.[14]

Direct election of the Federal Council

The proposal for direct election of the Federal Council, which would involve amending the Swiss Federal Constitution, was put forward by the Swiss People's Party. Opinion polls in late May showed 66% of voters opposed.[13] The proposal was ultimately rejected by 76% of voters.[15]

Results

Question	For		Against		Invalid/ blank	Total votes	Registered voters	Turnout	Cantons for		Cantons against		Result
	Votes	%	Votes	%					Full	Half	Full	Half
Asylum law	1,573,007	78.45	432,174	21.55	38,911	2,044,092	5,184,426	39.43					Accepted
Federal Council	480,291	23.66	1,550,080	76.34	18,293	2,048,664		39.52	0	0	20	6	Rejected
Source: Government of Switzerland, Government of Switzerland

September referendums

Three federal referendums were held on 22 September 2013.[16] The abolition of compulsory military service was rejected, whilst an amendment to epidemia law and an increase in the opening hours of petrol station shops were both approved.

Results

Question	For		Against		Invalid/ blank	Total votes	Registered voters	Turnout	Cantons for		Cantons against		Result
	Votes	%	Votes	%					Full	Half	Full	Half
Abolition of compulsory military service	644,985	26.8	1,762,811	73.2	32,740	2,440,536	5,194,150	47.0	0	0	20	6	Rejected
Amendment to the epidemia law	1,395,607	59.0	968,078	41.0	65,302	2,428,987		46.76					Accepted
Increase petrol station shop opening hours	1,345,662	56.7	1,025,817	43.3	57,956	2,429,435		46.77					Accepted
Source: Government of Switzerland, Government of Switzerland, Government of Switzerland

November referendums

Three referendums were held on 24 November on a proposed increase in road tax,[17] limiting the highest salary in a company to twelve times the lowest salary,[18] and tax credits for stay-at-home parents.[19] All three were rejected by voters.

Results

Question	For		Against		Invalid/ blank	Total votes	Registered voters	Turnout	Cantons for		Cantons against		Result
	Votes	%	Votes	%					Full	Half	Full	Half
Salary capping using the 1:12 ratio	954,787	34.7	1,796,930	65.3	39,365	2,791,082	5,203,973	53.63	0	0	20	6	Rejected
Tax credits for stay-at-home parents	1,139,670	41.5	1,604,491	58.5	44,564	2,788,725		53.59	2	1	18	5	Rejected
Increase in road tax	1,087,368	39.5	1,662,748	60.5	39,935	2,790,051		53.61					Rejected
Source: Government of Switzerland, Government of Switzerland, Government of Switzerland

References

1. Election Profile IFES
2. Swiss edge towards binding vote Archived 2013-10-02 at the Wayback Machine PIRC
3. Majority of Swiss back "fat cat" pay curbs - poll Reuters, 13 January 2013
4. Switzerland, 3 March 2013: Family politics Direct Democracy (in German)
5. Switzerland, 3 March 2013: Spatial planning law Direct Democracy (in German)
6. Swiss referendum backs executive pay curbs BBC News, 3 March 2013
7. Say-on-pay Deloitte, 19 July 2012
8. Swiss government says proposed "fat cat" curbs go too far Reuters, 18 December 2012
9. Peer Teuwsen (24 January 2013), "Initiative gegen "Abzocker": Minders Kampf", Die Zeit (in German) (5)
10. Andreas Fagetti (31 January 2013), "Eine Watsche für die da oben", WOZ Die Wochenzeitung (in German) (5)
11. CH: 11 cantons enable their voters residing abroad to vote online in March 2013 Global Centre for ICT in Parliament
12. Election Profile IFES
13. Asylum and cabinet reforms set for clear verdict Swiss Info, 29 May 2013
14. Swiss back tighter asylum rules BBC News, 9 June 2013
15. Vorlage Nr. 570 Übersicht Swiss Confederation
16. Referendums on 22 September 2013 Archived 6 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine Swiss Parliament, 28 June 2013 (in German)
17. Voters to decide on road tax hike in November The Local, 12 July 2013
18. Swiss divided as 1:12 executive pay referendum nears The Guardian, 14 November 2013
19. Swiss Confederation Referendum IFES