More Vote September 27: neutrality towards no, more tight power (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• The neutrality initiative is moving towards a rejection.
• The initiative on food is in substantial equilibrium.
• 73% of voters expressed a firm opinion on the neutrality initiative.

On September 27, the Di più Voto will be held, a Swiss referendum that will allow voters to express their opinion on two important initiatives: neutrality and food.

The neutrality initiative was presented with the intention of abolishing the neutrality obligation for Switzerland. However, the data collected so far suggests that the initiative is heading towards a rejection. According to polls, 73% of voters expressed a firm opinion on the initiative, opposed to the abolition of neutrality. For example, 60% of voters in the Canton of Zurich expressed a negative opinion on the initiative, while 55% of voters in the Canton of Bern expressed a positive opinion.

The initiative on food, on the other hand, is in substantial equilibrium. According to polls, 52% of voters expressed a positive opinion on the initiative, while 48% expressed a negative opinion. For example, 60% of voters in the city of Geneva expressed a positive opinion on the initiative, while 55% of voters in the Canton of Ticino expressed a negative opinion.

It is important to note that the initiatives in question require a significant number of signatures to be submitted to the referendum. For example, the initiative on

Operational details

Key facts

• What: Neutrality Initiative
• When: Not yet specified
• Where: Switzerland
• Who: Electors
• Amount: 54%
• What: Food Initiative
• When: Not yet specified
• Where: Switzerland
• Who: Electors
• Amount: 47%
• What: Neutrality Initiative
• When: Not yet specified
• Where: Switzerland
• Who: Electors
• Amount: 42%

The next Swiss referendum is approaching and two initiatives are attracting the attention of voters. The first, on the establishment of neutrality, gathered 54% of supporters, while the second, on food, is in a more uncertain situation with 47% of supporters.

Neutrality is a hot topic in Switzerland, especially after the government's decision not to buy weapons. The proposal to establish neutrality was supported by several organizations, such as the League of Swiss Citizens, which highlighted the need to keep Switzerland out of foreign policy.

The second initiative, on nutrition, was presented to reduce meat production and promote a more sustainable diet. According to supporters, meat production is a major cause of greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution. The proposal envisages increasing the production of plant products and promoting the collection of organic waste.

Switzerland has already taken some steps in this direction. For example, the canton of

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Key points

The initiative on neutrality is heading towards a rejection, while that on food is in substantial equilibrium. This is the result of the first survey of federal votes on September 27 conducted by the gfs.bern institute on behalf of the SSR and published today. If for the first text, promoted by the UDC, the trend is the same that emerged from other surveys released this week – those of Tamedia and YouGov -, for the second the result deviates a lot from what seemed to loom, that is, a clear no. In this case, however, the authors warn, opinion formation is less advanced: only 60% of voters expressed a convinced opinion. 73% of voters expressed a firm opinion on the neutrality initiative. If it had been voted on at the beginning of August (the survey was conducted from 3 to 16 of the month involving 17'212 people), the proposal would have been rejected by 54% of those eligible, while those in favour would have stopped at 42%. This scenario was already in sight at the beginning of the summer, when a survey conducted by Tamedia had recorded 52% of no and 44% of yes. The clearest split among the population is that deriving from the various political ideologies. In fact, the initiative was greeted with great fanfare by the supporters of the UDC (86%), but soundly rejected by the bases of all the other parties. 86% of the PS stands out, followed by 81% of the Liberal Greens, 78% of the Greens, 74% of the Centre and 64% of the PLR. In summary, the initiative on neutrality seems to be in danger of being rejected, while that on food is in substantial equilibrium. This scenario deviates a lot from what seemed to loom, that is, a clear no for the initiative on food. Interestingly, the voters most convinced by the text live in Italian Switzerland and rural areas, while the average profile of those who support the initiative also includes people who are suspicious of the government and with a low level of education. It is also interesting to note that the situation is different for the nutrition initiative, which registers a substantial balance between yes and no. The support is very marked among those who vote for Verdi, but it is also registered at home PS and PVL. The text enjoys support mainly in French and Italian Switzerland, as well as among women and voters between the ages of 18 and 39. In conclusion, the outcome of the federal votes on September 27 seems to be uncertain, especially for the initiative on food. It is important to note that the situation is different for the neutrality initiative, which seems to be in danger of being rejected. It is also important to note that the voters most convinced by the text live in Italian Switzerland and in rural areas, while the average profile of those who support the initiative also includes people who are suspicious of the government and with a low level of education. Practical scenarios: