Civic service initiative, appeals are inadmissible (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• The Federal Court has ruled that appeals brought by supporters of the 'For a Committing Switzerland' initiative (Civic Service Initiative) are inadmissible.
• The initiative envisaged that all young people, including women, provide a service for the benefit of the community and the environment.
• The vote was cancelled on 30 November and saw a turnout of 84.2% of voters, with the approval of all the Cantons.

Details on the initiative

The Civic Service initiative proposed to introduce a mandatory citizenship service for all young Swiss, including women, aged between 18 and 30. The service should have been of a minimum duration of 12 months and could have been carried out in different forms, such as the provision of voluntary work in sustainable development projects, participation in training and professional guidance programs, or the provision of service in non-profit organizations of social benefit.

Inadmissible appeals

Supporters of the initiative have appealed to the Federal Court against the decision to annul the vote. However, on 15 December 2022, the Federal Court ruled that the appeals are inadmissible. The decision was taken on the basis of the legislation in force, which states that appeals against decisions to annul the vote must be filed within 30 days from the date of

Operational details

Key facts

• What: The Civic Service initiative included a mandatory civil service for young people.
• When: The vote was cancelled on 30 November.
• Where: The vote was held in all the cantons.
• Who: Supporters of the initiative have filed appeals with the Federal Court.
• Amount: There is no data available on the amount spent on the election campaign.

The Civic Service initiative: an ambitious project

The Civic Service initiative was an ambitious project aimed at introducing a compulsory civil service for young Swiss. The aim was to promote civic participation, social responsibility and the training of young people through participation in civil service projects. However, the vote on the initiative was cancelled on 30 November.

Appeals to the Federal Court

Supporters of the initiative filed appeals with the Federal Court, complaining about the decision to cancel the vote. The appeals were lodged by several organisations and associations, including the Swiss Confederation for Youth and the Swiss Society for Civic Participation. The applicants argue that the decision to annul the vote is unlawful and should be reinstated.

The decision of the Federal Court

The Federal Court has decided that the appeals are inadmissible. The decision was motivated by the fact that the vote was annulled in

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Key points

Civic service initiative, appeals are inadmissible

The Federal Court has ruled that appeals filed by supporters of the 'For a Switzerland that engages' initiative (Civic Service Initiative) are inadmissible. The initiative provided for a compulsory civil service for young people, but the vote was cancelled on 30 November due to serious irregularities. Supporters of the initiative appealed to the Federal Court, but were rejected.

The decision of the Federal Court was taken in the session of February 10, 2024, and is based on the current legislation on referendums and popular initiative, established by the Federal Constitution of April 18, 1999. According to the law, articles 193 and 194 of the Federal Constitution provide that appeals filed against decisions of the Federal Council or the Government concerning referendums and popular initiative are admissible only if filed within 30 days of the publication of the decision.

The decision of the Federal Court was taken after a careful examination of the facts and regulations in force. Supporters of the initiative had filed appeals against the Federal Council's decision to annul the vote, but the Federal Court ruled that the appeals are inadmissible because they were filed after the deadline set by law.

The decision of the Federal Court has a significant impact on Switzerland. The initiative

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Source: tio.ch