While many public votes are held in Switzerland, it is not the only country with instruments like popular initiatives and referendums.
Many states – some democratic, others not – hold referendums at the local or national levels. Have you ever experienced one? Let us know in the debate below.
In Uruguay in 1917, our Constitution established a collegiate executive branch comprising 11 members from the two main political parties, as well as the institution of the referendum for amending laws and the plebiscite for amending the Constitution. The collegiate executive branch was reformed in the middle of the century and is currently composed of the President of the Republic and ministers. The plebiscite is used whenever there is an attempt to amend the Constitution. It was also used by the military during the last de facto government, but they lost and handed over power. The referendum has been used on several occasions. The right has always respected the results, whereas the left has not. We, the citizens of Uruguay, resolved an issue by voting twice in the same way, amidst a massive propaganda campaign by the left. As they did not like the result, the left-wing government passed a law that provided for the opposite of what the citizens had decided on two occasions. This unconstitutional law is being enforced by the Judiciary.
En Uruguay en 1917, nuestra Constitución establecía un Poder Ejecutivo colegiado integrado por 11 miembros de los dos partidos mayoritarios, además del instituto del referéndum para modificar leyes y plebiscito para modificar la Constitución. El Poder Ejecutivo colegiado modificado a mitad de siglo estando actualmente integrado por el Presidente de la República y Ministros. El instrumento del plebiscito se utiliza cada vez que se pretende modificar la Constitución. Lo utilizaron también los militares en el último gobierno de facto pero lo perdieron y entregaron el poder. El referéndum ha sido utilizado varias veces. La derecha siempre respetó los resultados en cambio la izquierda no. Los ciudadanos uruguayos resolvimos un tema votando dos veces en el mismo sentido, bajo una enorme propaganda de la izquierda. Cómo no les gustó el resultado, el gobierno de izquierda votó una ley que dispuso lo contrario a lo resuelto por los ciudadanos dos veces. Está ley inconstitucional está siendo aplicada por el Poder Judicial.
Thank you very much for sharing your perspective! I assume you yourself voted in those recent referendums? As I understand it, the high turnout threshold of 50% in Uruguay also plays a role – was it partly due to this hurdle that the referendums you described failed?
Vielen Dank für die Schilderung Ihrer Perspektive! Ich nehme an, Sie selbst haben bei den letzteren Abstimmungen mitgestimmt? So wie ich es verstehe, spielt das hohe Beteiligungsquorum von 50% in Uruguay auch eine Rolle - lag es auch an dieser Hürde, dass die von Ihnen geschilderten Abstimmungen gescheitert sind
Public opinion, and the vote, are becoming increasingly susceptible to manipulation. Referendums demand a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ – it’s black or white; they divide opinion into ‘good’ and ‘bad’ and vice versa – a simplification that aids manipulation. It is easy to stir up emotions in one direction or another, especially in this age of algorithms and slogans. __In a small country like Switzerland, this might be useful.__In other countries, I have my doubts.
La opinión pública, el voto, es cada vez más manipulable. Los referéndums piden un sí o un no, es blanco o negro, dividen la opinión entre buenos y malos y viceversa, una simplificación que ayuda a la manipulació, es fácil generar emociones en uno u otro sentido sobre todo en los tiempos de los algoritmos y los slogans. __En un país pequeño como Suiza, puede ser útil.__En otros países, tengo muchas dudas..
Thank you very much for sharing your perspective. You are, of course, right that in referendums one must always clearly take one side or the other – but citizens always have the opportunity to express their views. What, then, do you see as a better alternative to ensure that citizens feel their voices are being heard?
Vielen Dank für die Schilderung Ihrer Perspektive. Sie haben natürlich recht, dass man bei Volksabstimmungen immer klar die eine oder andere Position vertreten muss - aber immer gibt es den Bürgerinnen und Bürgern die Möglichkeit, ihre Position zu vertreten. Was sehen Sie denn als bessere Alternative dafür, dass sich die Bürgerinnen und Bürger gehört fühlen
Personally, I like Mr Orban. Obviously, not on every point. But given that the EU and NATO never honour the agreements and proposals between Russia and Ukraine, it will never work. Too much money is at stake, too much is being invested in weapons, instead of boosting investment in developing countries. These large-scale migrations are dangerous, both for the countries of origin and for those receiving people with such different lifestyles, political views and religions.
Pour ma part, M, Orban, me plait. Évidemment , par sur tous les points. Mais le fait que l'UE et l'OTAN, ne respecte jamais les accords et propositions entre la Russie et l'Ukraine, cela ne fonctionnera jamais. Trop d'argent en jeu , trop d'investissement dans les armes, au lieu de renforcer les investissements dans les pays en développement . Ces fortes migrations sont dangereuses , autant pour les pays d'origine que pour ceux qui accueillent des modes de vie , de politiques et religions tellement différentes.
Hello, ____This is about your experiences with referendums. Would you like to share them?
Guten Tag, ____Hier geht es um Ihre Erfahrungen mit Referenden. Wollen Sie diese teilen
I believe that holding a referendum is a valid form of democracy, which allows questions to be put to the people in order to make or ratify a decision on a particular issue.__However, such referendums must meet certain conditions to be valid and taken into account; a fundamental element is the turnout rate. In a referendum where the turnout does not reach even 1% of the electoral roll, it CANNOT BE VALIDATED AS GENUINE, ____In my country, cases such as this have occurred, and governments, in their complete disregard and ignorance of these principles, have declared referendums valid in order to scupper projects involving huge investments (such as the Mexico City port), supposedly to manage and develop projects more effectively.____Personally, I find it hard to comprehend the damage caused to the country, its people, the public purse and progress, due to a resentful and ill-intentioned leader; unfortunately, that is the price we must pay for having politicians who are not true stewards of a country’s growth structure.____How wonderful it would be to have referendums with genuine citizen participation, rather than just ‘sham’ referendums,
Considero que el hacer un referendum, es un forma valida de la democracia, que permite hacer preguntas al pueblo para tomar o validar una decisón en un determinado tema.__Sin emgargo esos referendums deben tener ciertas condiciones para ser validos y ser tomados en cuenta, un elemento fundamental es el porcentaje de participacion, en un refrendum en donde el porcentaje participante no llega ni al 1% delpadron electoral, NO PUEDE SER VALIDADO COMO REAL, ____En mi pais casos como ese, se han llevado a cabo y los gobiernos en un total, desapego e ignorancia de esos valores, han marcado como validos referendums para hechar por tierra proyectos con inmensas inversiones, (caso earpuerto de la cuidad de méxico ), para segun ellos gestionar una mejor forma de contar y desarrollar proyectos.____En lo personal, me cuesta trabajo entender el daño al pais, a sus habitantes, al erario y al progreso, por causa de un gobernante resentido y mal intencionado, desgraciadamente ese es el precio que hay que pagar por contar con politicos que no son verdaderos gestionadores de la estructura de crecimiento de un pais.____Que bueno seria tener referendums, con verdaderas participacionesde los ciudadanos y no solo "simulaciones" de referendums,
Dear Roberto Fdz ____Thank you very much for your account from Mexico! Indeed, there are many countries that use referendums in such a dubious manner. ____My colleague Domhnall O'Sullivan has just been looking at the example of Hungary: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/global-elections/how-direct-democracy-became-part-of-orbáns-illiberal-toolkit-in-hungary/91149629____Leider has not (yet?) been published in Spanish. There are also many other examples of how referendums are used for specific purposes in states that are not fully democratic. You can find out more in this article: __https://www.swissinfo.ch/spa/elecciones-globales/claves-para-que-un-referéndum-sea-justo/90972843____Was What do you think: can the instruments currently in place in Mexico still bring about change?
Lieber Roberto Fdz ____Vielen Dank für Ihre Schilderung aus Mexiko! Tatsächlich gibt es viele Länder, die Referenden eben auf eine solche zweifelhafte Art einsetzen. ____Mein Kollege Domhnall O'Sullivan hat sich gerade mit dem Beispiel Ungarn befasst: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/global-elections/how-direct-democracy-became-part-of-orbáns-illiberal-toolkit-in-hungary/91149629____Leider ist der (noch?) nicht auf Spanisch erschienen. Auch sonst gibt es viele Beispiele, wie Referenden in nicht komplett demokratischen Staaten für einen bestimmten Zweck eingesetzt werden. Mehr darüber erfahren Sie in diesem Artikel: __https://www.swissinfo.ch/spa/elecciones-globales/claves-para-que-un-referéndum-sea-justo/90972843____Was denken Sie: Können die Instrumente, wie sie gegenwärtig in Mexiko existieren, trotzdem eine Veränderung bewirken
In Australia voting for referenda is compulsory for all citizens unlike Switzerland where it is optional. At the referendum last year a Swiss academic wrote in Swiss Info wrote that the result was not democratic when it was in fact more democratic than any question put in Switzerland. The referendum was about giving aborigines a privilege in deciding all government legislation and putting that into the constitution.. Over 60% of all citizens voted NO and all states by majority voted NO. How can dividing a country in ethic groups and give one group privilege be democratic. The NO vote should have been higher if it had been explained properly. The Yes vote was backed by the Socialist Labor party (ALP), by academics at University (who tend in majority to be socialists), the trade unions (who are socialist in majority) and some elite business people. It is thought by NO voters that socialists would be able to manipulate the small ethnic groups of less than 1% of the population for political purposes. __In Australia voting for elections to parliament is compulsory, and uses the preferential counting so voters can choose who they do not want to represent them. The problem with the Australian system is there is not enough referenda to settle important constitutional issues such as on energy exploitation
Dear Peter 1, ____Thank you very much for sharing your perspective. You seem to be referring to this article from 2023: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/a-defeat-not-only-for-aboriginal-people-but-also-for-australian-democracy/48895044 __Is that correct? Just so that everyone reading this has the context. ____I would like to ask you why you see this decision as more democratic “than any other issue put to a vote in Switzerland”? This is not yet entirely clear to me from your description.
Lieber Peter 1, ____Vielen Dank für das Schildern Ihrer Perspektive. Sie scheinen sich auf diesen Artikel von 2023 zu beziehen: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/a-defeat-not-only-for-aboriginal-people-but-also-for-australian-democracy/48895044 __Ist das korrekt? Einfach damit alle, die mitlesen, den Kontext auch haben. ____Gerne wollte ich Sie fragen, warum Sie den Entscheid als demokratischer sehen "als jede andere in der Schweiz zur Abstimmung gestellte Frage"? Dies wird mir aus Ihrer Schilderung noch nicht ganz klar.
In Uruguay, in 1980, the dictatorship organised a referendum that would have allowed it to remain in power indefinitely. They lost! They were so confident that they didn’t even try to rig the vote. It marked the beginning of the end of the military dictatorship, and democracy was soon restored.
En Uruguay, en 1980, la dictadura organizó un referéndum que le permitiría perpetuarse en el poder. Lo perdieron! Estaban tan confiados que ni siquiera intentaron hacer trampas. Fue el principio del fin de la dictadura militar y la democracia no tardó en llegar.
That’s very impressive. Were you able to witness this yourself back then?
Das ist sehr eindrücklich. Haben Sie dies damals selbst miterleben dürfen
Were you eligible to vote in 1980? We’d love to hear more from you about your memories of that time.
Haben Sie 1980 selbst mitabstimmen dürfen? Gerne würden wir mehr von Ihnen darüber erfahren, wie Sie sich daran erinnern.
there are no referendums in this country...
Hello Klausius,____It’s good that you got in touch anyway. Which country are you referring to? And do you think that holding referendums there would be good for democracy in your country?
Guten Tag Klausius,____Schön, dass Sie sich trotzdem gemeldet haben. Von welchem Land sprechen Sie denn? Und denken Sie, dass es der Demokratie in Ihrem Land guttun würde, wenn es dort Volksabstimmungen gäbe
In Sweden, referendums are held at local and national level. However, they are mostly only advisory. In most cases at national level, politicians follow the will of the people. The exception is the vote on the transition to driving on the right, which took place 12 years later despite a "no" vote. In my opinion, national referendums are partly an outlet for giving the people a voice in a lively debate – as was the case in 1980 with regard to nuclear power, in 1994 with regard to EU membership, and in 2003 with regard to the euro. Opinions change over time: the government now wants to expand nuclear power, and a majority would probably vote in favour of the euro today. At the same time, however, major decisions are made without a vote, such as the last major pension reform or NATO membership.
In Schweden gibt es Volksabstimmungen auf lokaler und nationaler Ebene. Sie sind jedoch meist nur beratend. In den meisten Fällen auf nationaler Ebene folgt die Politik dem Volkswillen. Die Ausnahme bildet die Abstimmung zum Übergang zum Rechtsverkehr, der trotz einem „Nein“ 12 Jahre später erfolgte.____Die nationalen Volksabstimmungen sind m. E. zum Teil ein Ventil, um dem Volk in einer lebhaften Debatte eine Stimme zu geben – so geschehen 1980 bezüglich der Atomkraft, 1994 zur EU-Mitgliedschaft oder 2003 zum Euro. Mit der Zeit ändern sich die Ansichten: So will die Regierung jetzt die Atomkraft ausbauen, und eine Mehrheit würde heute wohl für den Euro stimmen.____Gleichzeitig werden aber große Entschlüsse ohne Abstimmung getroffen, wie etwa die letzte große Rentenreform oder der NATO-Beitritt.
Thank you very much for your account! How do you, as a citizen, view this? Do you see the existence of referendums as a positive thing, or does it bother you that there is no consistent approach to ‘major decisions’?
Vielen Dank für Ihre Schilderung! Wie nehmen Sie diese denn als Bürger wahr? Sehen Sie es positiv, dass es Abstimmungen gibt oder stört es sie, dass es keinen einheitlichen Umgang mit "grossen Entschlüssen" gibt
The failure to consult the public on joining NATO, thereby breaching a century of neutrality, is the clearest sign of the decline of Sweden’s once-admired democracy.
No haber consultado la entrada en la OTAN violando un siglo de neutralidad es la más clara señal de la decadencia de la tan admirada antes democracia sueca.
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