Cabinet rejects gag on official information
The government has come out against a proposal by the rightwing Swiss People's Party to ban official information ahead of nationwide ballots.
Interior Minister Pascal Couchepin said it was in the interests of voters and democracy to learn all the facts about an issue at stake.
He added that acceptance of the proposal, to come to a nationwide vote on June 1, would mean a reversal of current practice.
However, the government approved a plan to grant health insurance companies a greater say in funding public hospitals.
A committee of doctors, health care workers and consumer groups has warned the proposal would give too much power at the expense of patients.
Voters will also have the final word on a people's initiative proposed by the People's Party which wants to give local authorities a choice over the citizenship procedure.
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