Swiss citizens are called to the polls today November 29 to vote on the popular initiative «Against the Construction of Minarets». Launched by the right-wing People’s Party and the small ultra-conservative Federal Democratic Union, the initiative has sparked controversy and a heated debate on Islam in Switzerland, human rights and integration. An online poll by Jungfrauzeitung.ch in the week ending November 22 has shown 43 percent of readers against and 55 percent in favour of a ban. The Federal Council and parliament oppose the initiative, saying that it restricts freedom of religion as anchored in the constitution, goes against the grain of Switzerland’s tradition of tolerance, endangers integration and violates the European Convention on Human Rights. The main Swiss churches and non-governmental organisations such as Amnesty International Switzerland also reject a ban on the construction of minarets.
In other nationwide ballots on Sunday, a committee of centre-left parties and pacifist groups are proposing a ban on the export of weapons and other materials used in warfare. Voters are also being asked to decide on a constitutional amendment to allow the use of fuel tax from domestic flights for aviation safety and the environment rather than road projects.
According to the constitution, the Swiss people are sovereign and therefore the highest political authority. A people’s or popular initiative allows citizens to propose legislation that, if passed, is written into the constitution. A valid initiative requires 100,000 signatures, to be gathered within an eighteen-month period. Parliament can either directly accept the initiative, reject it or put forward its own - usually more moderate - counterproposal. In all cases, a nationwide vote is held. Popular initiatives require a double majority to pass, i.e. an electoral majority as well as the backing from a majority of the cantons.
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