No political tricks on the Bilaterals III!

What happened?

The Council of States is demanding a cantonal majority (Ständemehr) for the vote on the Bilaterals III. This would mean that, in addition to a majority of Swiss voters, a majority of cantons would also have to say yes at the ballot box for the package to pass. This was not the case for Bilaterals I and II, where a simple popular majority was sufficient.

Why is this wrong?

The Bilaterals III change neither our political rights, our fundamental rights, nor our state organisation. All our legislative processes, including the right of referendum, remain fully intact.

According to Art. 140 Para. 1 of the Federal Constitution (BV), a mandatory referendum requiring a double majority applies only to constitutional amendments, accession to collective security organisations, or supranational communities. The Bilaterals III meet none of these conditions: they do not hold constitutional status and do not constitute an EU accession. Instead, they establish mechanisms to stabilise the eroding bilateral path and create legal certainty.

Artificially enforcing the cantonal majority is therefore a political manoeuvre and a pseudo-democratic trick designed to artificially raise the barrier for approval. Furthermore, it disproportionately disadvantages voters in densely populated cantons.

Time for honesty!

Anyone who opposes the bilateral path should state so openly and engage in a fair vote campaign. In every vote so far, the Swiss people have clearly backed strong cooperation with Europe. Let's leave these tactical games behind!

Together for our future in Europe

In times of geopolitical uncertainty, we cannot afford to isolate ourselves even further. As Europeans, we must stand together today more than ever and defend our shared values. The Bilaterals III build on our proven approach and strengthen our relationship with our closest partners.