Government slams age discrimination in politics
The government has criticised several cantons and communes for preventing people aged 65 and over from standing for political office.
In a report published on Wednesday the government said imposing an upper age limit was discriminatory and should be scrapped.
“From a socio-political point of view these age limits are unnecessary and inappropriate,” it said.
“History has shown that older people are capable of great things in the fields of politics, culture or science.”
A debate over age discrimination in politics was triggered in August 2002, when the community of Madiswil in canton Bern fixed an upper age limit of 70 for local council candidates.
An investigation by the justice ministry found that four cantons – Bern, Glarus, Appenzell Inner Rhodes and Appenzell Outer Rhodes – have an age limit of 65 for members of the cantonal government.
However, in only one of them, Appenzell Inner Rhodes, is the age limit strictly observed.
Age limit
According to the report, 17 cantons have introduced an age limit of between 64 and 75 for members of advisory committees.
Pro Senectute, the Swiss organisation for the elderly, said it welcomed the government’s recommendation and its opposition to upper age limits for those standing for political office.
“A fixed age limit is unnecessary. If those aged 65 or 70 are still able to work full-time and their voters think they can do it, then they should be allowed to,” Kurt Seifert of Pro Senectute told swissinfo.
“The report points out the difference between honorary positions and full-time jobs, and I think excluding the elderly from voluntary jobs is unconstitutional,” he added.
Ageing population
The government report said the cantons had to take into account the demographic trend towards an older population. It noted that life expectancy in the western world had risen since 1880 from 42 to 80 years of age.
“Stressful jobs often prevent people from doing community work. Once people have reached their retirement they have more time and it would be wrong to stop them from taking on a political role,” the report stated.
When the decision was taken in Madiswil two years ago, the “Seniorenrat”, a commission that monitors potential discrimination against the elderly, lodged a complaint against the Bern cantonal authorities.
It criticised the office that had examined the legality of the Madiswil decision and demanded an official inquiry.
swissinfo with agencies
The Swiss government has rejected age limits on jobs in politics claiming they are unnecessary and discriminatory.
The government’s report is the result of a decision to introduce an age limit of 70 in the community of Madiswil in 2002.
According to the Federal Statistics Office, around 1,100,000 people over the age of 65 lived in Switzerland in 2002.
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