Swiss politicians call for ban on firecrackers

Firecrackers should be banned in Switzerland Keystone-SDA

The Swiss House of Representatives wants to ban firecrackers in Switzerland. On Thursday it adopted a counter-proposal to an initiative limiting fireworks. The use of fireworks and their harmful effects will be regulated in the law on explosives.

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The popular initiative calls for greater protection for people, animals and the environment against the noise and emissions caused by fireworks. Certain exceptions would be made for major supra-regional events.

The House of Representatives felt that this went too far. However, by 97 votes to 85, it backed a more flexible counter-proposal aimed at minimising harmful effects.

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Fireworks intended exclusively to produce detonations should be banned. The right-wing Swiss People’s Party and the centre-right Radical-Liberal Party opposed both the initiative and the counter-proposal, fearing a loss of Swiss tradition and a reduction in personal responsibility. The matter now goes to the Senate.

Adapted from French by AI/ts

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