Share your experiences in direct democracy!

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I lead the Spanish-language team at SWI swissinfo.ch, which involves ensuring the quality of our publications and making them understandable for Spanish-speaking people from more than 20 countries. I'm also part of a team of journalists specialising in foreign affairs. Explaining current events and its relations with Switzerland is an essential part of my task. Senior journalist with over 30 years of experience in investigative journalism, broadcasting, multimedia content production and social media distribution.

日本語

住民投票に参加したことはありますか？
Русский

Нужны ли Вам инструменты прямой демократии?

Tell us where you live and what your experience is of mechanisms of direct democracy, such as a referendum or a popular initiative. If you have never used these instruments, would you like to have access to them? Why?

In Switzerland, laws which have been passed by parliament can be challenged by the public in a referendum, for which 50,000 signatures must be gathered within 100 days. For a people’s initiative, which amends the constitution, 100,000 signatures must be collected within 18 months. But there are many nuances of direct democracy around the world.

Share your experiences with us and be part of the only debate platform in ten languages on the subject!

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Anonymous 2023-04-01 14:42

The following contribution has been automatically translated from JA.

In Japan, there is no referendum, but there are direct democratic systems. However, I think they are rarely used. I would like to invoke those systems to make ourselves democratic, but it is difficult because we have to organize people to do so.

日本では住民投票はないが直接民主主義的な制度はある。しかし、それらが利用されることは稀だと思う。私は自分たちが民主主義的であるためにそれらのシステムを発動させたいと思うが、そのためには人々を組織化しないといけないので、難しい。

LynxVegas 2023-03-29 13:16

The Swiss system can be slow and can mean great ideas such as basic income for everyone, more holidays, less tax, a shorter working week, etc get a "No" vote. But at least it stops the politicians doing whatever they want between elections. The UK Gov had one referendum on Brexit and say it's a once in a lifetime vote. But many people have changed their minds. I think if the UK people could challenge any law related to it, there would have to be another referendum very soon.

J.H. Snider 2023-03-27 22:35

In this policy brief (see https://usvi.concon.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Policy-Brief-Fixing-USVIs-Constitutional-Convention-Enabling-Act-March-2023.pdf), I critique the enabling act of the U.S. Virgin Islands to convene a constitutional convention. In Nov. 2020, USVI Voters via referendum approved calling a constitutional convention to draft a constitution for the islands. On Jan. 19, 2023, the Governor signed the enabling act into law for a constitutional convention delegate election to be held in Nov. 2024. The Legislature is currently considering amendments to that act. For a summary of the policy brief, see this news release: https://usvi.concon.info/?page_id=25579

Anonymous 2023-03-09 09:50

Readers might be interested in the U.S. Virgin Islands constitutional convention. It involves three public votes: 1) whether to call a convention, 2) to elect delegates to the convention, and 3) whether to ratify the convention's proposals. Switzerland has a similar process but the first step is determined via an initiative, which is better than the process in the Virgin Islands. Switzerland has utilized this process twice in its history, the last time in the 1930s. Here is a recent article of mine on what is going on in the Virgin Islands. It critiques the legislature's enabling act for the convention. See: "Where a U.S. Territory Can’t Get Its Own Constitution: A Self-Serving Legislature Drives the Plot in a Story of Democratic Failure," available at [url]https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2023/03/02/letter-from-virgin-islands-us-territory-constitution/ideas/essay[/url]

LoL 2023-03-14 11:23

@Anonymous

How is this comment allowed? Commercial advertising is not allowed according to swiss info. This is clearly and ad, it has explanation of the subject and a link to it!!! And this is like a 3rd time I am seeing comment like this with no reaction from Swiss info. They only delet my comments and leave this ads. Hmm maybe I should advertise company I am working for here since it's free

Alexandra Maria Victoria Andrist SWI SWISSINFO.CH 2023-03-24 13:31

@LoL

Hello and thank you for your contribution.

The comment you are responding to is on topic and adds an interesting perspective to the discussion. Therefore we have selected to approve it.

Thank you for your continued contribution.

Kind regards,
Swissinfo

Asparagus-Lake-Sarnen 2023-03-08 02:07

Washington State in America has popular initiatives and referenda, which are often abused by crazy fringe groups who can get the required number of signatures. Still however they are a useful form of direct democracy, and at least identify the ones using these tools. In this way their perpetrators are better known, and their ideas are usually defeated later at the ballot box. We also have non-binding advisory measures on the ballots, which are controversial but also shed light on many important issues. So overall my Swiss wife and I are in favor of them, but also think that the Swiss multi-party political system is far superior to the polarized 2 party nonsense here in America. 3/7/2023
-Eric Burr with Margrit Broennimann

J.H. Snider 2023-03-07 21:14

Readers might be interested in the U.S. Virgin Islands constitutional convention. It involves three public votes: 1) whether to call a convention, 2) to elect delegates to the convention, and 3) whether to ratify the convention's proposals. Switzerland has a similar process but the first step is determined via an initiative, which is better than the process in the Virgin Islands. Switzerland has utilized this process twice in its history, the last time in the 1930s. Here is a recent article of mine on what is going on in the Virgin Islands. It critiques the legislature's enabling act for the convention. See: "Where a U.S. Territory Can’t Get Its Own Constitution: A Self-Serving Legislature Drives the Plot in a Story of Democratic Failure," available at https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2023/03/02/letter-from-virgin-islands-us-territory-constitution/ideas/essay/

Gaz11 2023-03-03 12:06

You can call it anyway you want, but the longer I look at the model the more and more impressed I am, but to be fair to others, I think it transcends the model.... the model is the tool through which consultations and aspirations are bought to life..

Abdrashid Kushaev 2023-03-02 12:58

The following contribution has been automatically translated from RU.

Comments on Swissinfo can also be a tool for democracy.

Or recourse to the courts. Judicial precedent provides ample opportunity to repeat and change history.

Комментарии на Swissinfo тоже могут быть инструментом демократии.

Или обращение в суд. Судебный прецедент дает широкие возможности для повторения и изменения истории.

allenbatieste 2023-02-28 17:38

There’s a huge cultural component to direct democracy which is lending itself towards group tyranny. Democracy is more regulatory than voicing of ones opinions and should be solely based in law — scripture, tradition, and reason; there should be more foundation in the understanding of law before the non issue of democracy. Choosing between red, blue, and yellow is a preference and thus not really democracy.

Gaz11 2023-03-03 13:22

@allenbatieste

And that is exactly the point, it's more than it appears, more than a preference between red yellow or blue

allenbatieste 2023-03-04 03:48

@Gaz11

Red, Blue, Yellow vs Red, Yellow, Blue; the devil’s in the details — leider, it’s all about preference less about law with zeitgeist application.

Anonymous 2023-04-15 10:14

@allenbatieste

I get you and I don't. sorry...

are you saying/trying to say/ that if we treated everyone fairly - without all these rules and regulations - then ?? we don't need democracy?

I read somewhere about something like this.. that Democracy is still only a way of having leaders.. We see this in France with pension reforms and Macron stepped in and used some article to just take control... [note: it is a pity the French don't strike to get rid of this article in their constitution well all is finished]...

Plato: In the Republic, Plato's Socrates raises a number of objections to democracy. He claims that democracy is a danger due to excessive freedom. ****He also argues that, in a system in which everyone has a right to rule, all sorts of selfish people who care nothing for the people but are only motivated by their own personal desires are able to attain power. ***** He concludes that democracy risks bringing dictators, tyrants, and demagogues to power. He also claims that democracies have leaders without proper skills or morals and that it is quite unlikely that the best equipped to rule will come to power.

Imagine if citizens had to vote for a country to go to war!!