2022 Swiss referendums

This article is part of a series on the
Politics of Switzerland
Constitution Human rights
Federal Council Members (by seniority) Beat Jans Guy Parmelin Ignazio Cassis Viola Amherd (President) Karin Keller-Sutter (Vice President) Albert Rösti Élisabeth Baume-Schneider Federal Chancellor Viktor Rossi Federal administration
Federal Assembly Council of States (members) National Council (members) Political parties
Elections Voting Elections 1848 1851 1854 1857 1860 1863 1866 1869 1872 1875 1878 1881 1884 1887 1890 1893 1896 1899 1902 1905 1908 1911 1914 1917 1919 1922 1925 1928 1931 1935 1939 1943 1947 1951 1955 1959 1963 1967 1971 1975 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023 Referendums 1798 1802 1848 1866 1872 1874 1875 1876 1877 1879 1880 1882 1884 1885 1887 1889 1890 1891 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1900 1902 1903 1905 1906 1907 1908 1910 1912 1913 1914 1915 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1933 1934 1935 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Mandatory Optional Popular initiative
Federal courts Federal Supreme Court Federal Criminal Court Federal Administrative Court Federal Patent Court
Foreign relations European Union
Cantons Appenzell Ausserrhoden (AR) Appenzell Innerrhoden (AI) Aargau (AG) Basel-Landschaft (BL) Basel-Stadt (BS) Bern (BE) Fribourg (FR) Geneva (GE) Glarus (GL) Grisons (GR) Jura (JU) Lucerne (LU) Neuchâtel (NE) Nidwalden (NW) Obwalden (OW) Schaffhausen (SH) Schwyz (SZ) Solothurn (SO) St. Gallen (SG) Ticino (TI) Thurgau (TG) Uri (UR) Valais (VS) Vaud (VD) Zug (ZG) Zurich (ZH) Cantonal legislatures Cantonal executives Landsgemeinde
Municipalities (Full list of Municipalities) Aargau Appenzell Innerrhoden Appenzell Ausserrhoden Basel-Landschaft Basel-Stadt Bern Fribourg Geneva Glarus Graubünden Jura Lucerne Neuchâtel Nidwalden Obwalden Schaffhausen Schwyz Solothurn St. Gallen Thurgau Ticino Uri Valais Vaud Zug Zurich
Switzerland portal Other countries
v t e

Federal referendums were held in Switzerland on 13 February, 15 May and 25 September 2022.^[1] Swiss referendums take three forms: popular initiatives, which are citizen proposals to create a new law and require 100,000 valid signatures on a petition to get on the ballot; facultative or optional referendums, which are citizen proposals to approve or reject a piece of existing law and require 50,000 valid signatures on a petition to get on the ballot; and mandatory referendums, which are required to revise the constitution, join an international organization or introduce emergency federal legislation for over a year.^[2][3]

Four referendums were held on 13 February, including two popular initiatives; "Yes to the ban on animal and human experiments",^[4] and "Yes to protecting children and young adults from tobacco advertising". The other two were on the Amendment of the Federal Act on Stamp Duties and Federal Act on a Package of Measures to Benefit the Media.^[5]

The popular initiative (Ja zum Tier und Menschenversuchsverbot) proposed prohibiting experiments on living creatures, including both humans and animals. The initiative also proposed banning the import of products developed abroad using animal testing, and required non-animal research receive at least the same level of government support as animal-based research.^[6]

Proponents argued that animal testing is unnecessary, unethical, and scientifically unreliable, that the living conditions of animals used in experiments are usually inhumane, and that the current "3R" system in place has been insufficient in preventing unnecessary cruelty.^[7]

The ban was proposed by the Tierversuchsverbots-Initiative Initiativkomitee, which consists of Dr. Renato Werndli, trained biologist Irene Varga, environmental physicist Simon Kälin-Werth, naturopath Luzia Osterwalder, as well as Andreas Graf, Susi Kreis, and Cristina Clemente. The proposal was supported by over 80 organizations, including CIVIS-Schweitz and other animal welfare groups, as well as doctors, scientists, and local businesses.^[8]

The Federal Council opposed the initiative, claiming that existing regulations were restrictive enough to prevent cruelty, and that a ban on animal experiments would disadvantage Switzerland by preventing the development of new medical therapies and endangering jobs.

The Swiss National Science Foundation, swissuniversities, and the Swiss Academy of Medical Science expressed opposition to the referendum, arguing that it would "have extreme and damaging consequences for research, healthcare treatment, competitiveness and...innovation potential".^[9]

All eleven major parties opposed the move, with opinion polls suggesting 80% of the electorate were opposed.^[10]

The initiative (Ja zum Schutz der Kinder und Jugendlichen vor Tabakwerbung) proposed banning advertising tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, on platforms accessible to children, including print newspapers, magazines, public posters, the internet, in cinemas, kiosks or public events. Ads directed at adults and located in places that minors cannot access would still be permitted.^[11]

The Federal Council and Parliament opposed this measure as over-broad and economically restrictive, and countered the initiative with the new Tobacco Products Act (Tabakproduktegesetz), which banned advertising tobacco products and e-cigarettes on billboards and in cinemas, and forbids tobacco companies from giving away free cigarettes or sponsoring international events in Switzerland. The Tobacco Products Act may be enacted regardless of the outcome of the vote on the popular initiative.^[12]

The political parties in support included the Green Liberal Party,^[13] the Evangelical People's Party,^[14] the Federal Democratic Union,^[15] Green Party,^[16] and the Social Democratic Party.^[17]

The Centre (Die Mitte) opposed the initiative,^[18] though The Center-Women (Die Mitte-Frauen) and 9 cantonal Die Mitte sections support it.

Opposing parties included FDP.The Liberals and the Swiss People's Party.^[19][20]

The Amendment of the Federal Act on Stamp Duties was a proposal to abolish the Issuance Tax (Emissionsabgabe), a 1% tax on capital paid by companies on new equity capital. The tax is only levied on amounts over one million Swiss francs, and as a rule, small companies do not pay it; the tax revenue comes primarily from medium-sized and large companies.

The passage of the amendment would allow companies to raise new equity without paying taxes on it. Proponents claimed that the amendment would have a positive effect on Switzerland's attractiveness as a location, and would generate growth and jobs.^[21]

Opponents of the amendment argued that the abolition of the tax would reduce income for the federal government by an estimated CHF 250 million per year. According to the opponent Committee, large international corporations, banks and insurance companies would benefit from the abolition of the Issuance Tax, while citizens would gain nothing from it; on the contrary, they would have to pay higher taxes or accept a reduction in state services.^[21]

Parties in favor of the amendment were the Swiss People's Party,^[22] and the FDP.The Liberals,^[23] the Green Liberal Party,^[13] and The Centre (Die Mitte).^[18]

Parties that opposed the amendment include the Federal Democratic Union,^[15] the Green Party,^[16] the Evangelical People's Party,^[24] and the Social Democratic Party.^[17]

The Federal Act on a Package of Measures to Benefit the Media (Bundesgesetz über ein Massnahmenpaket zugunsten der Medien) proposed extending the federal government's existing subsidy on the delivery of subscription newspapers to newspapers with a larger circulation, early-morning deliveries, online media, local radio stations, and regional television. Support would be provided on condition that media outlets concerned primarily address a Swiss audience and deal with a range of political, business and social topics. The measures would be financed by revenues from the existing radio and television tax, and from the federal budget. In the case of newspapers and online media, support would be provided for a period of seven years.^[25]

The committee in opposition argued that the law would waste public money to benefit wealthy publishers. The committee was also wary to make all media into state media, and argued in favor of independent media.^[25]

Vote (%)

Yes
%	50	55	60	65	70	75	80	85
No

Ban on animal and human experiments	Limiting tobacco advertising
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.	Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Stamp duties act amendment	Measures to benefit the media
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.	Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.

Three referendums were held on 15 May:^[27][28]

• Introducing a tax on streaming services such as Disney+ and Netflix, which would fund local audio and/or audiovisual productions, as well as requiring that at least 30 percent of streaming content available in Switzerland be produced in Europe.
• Introducing presumed consent for organ donation (unless otherwise stated by a person or relative(s); applies only to people who die in hospital in intensive care).
• An increase in the Swiss government's contribution to the Frontex border agency.

All proposals were approved.

Vote (%)

Yes
%	50	55	60	65	70	75	80	85
No

Amendment of the Federal Law on Film Production and Film Culture	Amendment of the Federal Law on the Transplantation of Organs, Tissues and Cells
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.	Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Adoption of the EU regulation on the European Border and Coast Guard
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.

On 25 September four referendums were held, including one popular initiative.^[30][31]

The initiative aims at banning intensive farming, including on imported products.^{[citation needed]}

In order to stabilise revenue for the Old-Age and Survivor's Insurance (OASI), the OASI-21 (AVS / AHV 21) plan purports to increase VAT rates from 2.5 to 2.6% (reduced rate) and from 7.7 to 8.1% (standard rate). This is a constitutional amendment subject to mandatory vote. Since both this VAT increase and uniformized retirement age are part of the same program, either one being rejected would in effect see the whole reform process fail.^{[citation needed]}

With the aim of stabilising revenue for the State-guaranteed part of pensions, the OASI-21 (AVS / AHV 21) plan purports to apply a uniform retirement age, meaning that women would then retire at 65 (up from 64). A referendum against this change was demanded. Since both the VAT increase and uniformized retirement age are part of the same program, either one being rejected would in effect see the whole reform process fail.^{[citation needed]}

The bill would exempt domestic bonds from withholding tax. It also abolishes sales tax on domestic bonds and other securities.

Vote (%)

Yes
%	50	55	60	65	70	75	80	85
No

Popular initiative on factory farming	Financing of retirement insurance by increasing VAT
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.	Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Modification of the law on retirement and survivor insurance	Amendment to the Federal Act on Withholding Tax
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.	Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.

The date of 27 November was reserved for possible referendums, but due to none being ready to be voted on, the Federal Chancellery decreed there would be no votes on the date.^[33]