Swiss town Moutier to re-vote in March on cantonal allegiance
In the latest chapter of one of the most divisive issues in recent Swiss politics, on March 28 the town of Moutier will decide for the second time whether to leave German-speaking canton Bern to join French-speaking Jura.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/ts
Русский
ru
Референдум по швейцарскому городу Мутье пройдет в марте 2021 года
In June 2017, voters in the working-class municipality of 7,700 backed joining Jura by just 137 votes. Moutier was part of one of three districts that had previously opted to remain part of German-speaking Bern even though they are French-speaking.
However, the vote aroused suspicions that some “electoral tourists” had registered themselves as eligible voters in Moutier without actually living there, and in November 2018 a top district official ruled the result void. Besides irregularities, the court pointed out “inadmissible” propaganda by officials such as the mayor, who should have been neutral on the issue.
More
More
Thousands of separatists protest Moutier vote court decision
This content was published on
Several thousand protesters held a mock funeral in the Swiss town of Moutier, criticising a court decision to overturn a contentious vote.
In August 2019, the Bern administrative court dismissed appeals and backed the decision to nullify the result.
Compromise
On Thursday, Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter chaired a tripartite conference attended by delegations from the government, cantons Bern and Jura, and the municipality of Moutier.
The parties eventually compromised on March 28 for the re-vote. Canton Bern had wanted the vote to be held as early as possible, suggesting February 7; separatists in Moutier had proposed May 9.
French-speaking Jura became the 26th Swiss canton in 1979 when a separatist movement won a vote to secede from the mainly German-speaking canton Bern. Since then the question has been raised in some towns and villages along the border about which canton they would like to belong to.
More
More
Why the vote in the Swiss town of Moutier was historic
This content was published on
It may have been just a local ballot, but it marked a decisive stage in a long-term Swiss territorial conflict.
Ecological status of Swiss streams insufficient according to study
This content was published on
Pesticide use and obstructions of waterways have a particularly negative impact on sensitive organisms, completely absent in 70% of streams analysed.
Train line between Brig and Domodossola interrupted
This content was published on
One day after a derailment approximately 15 kilometres from the Swiss border, BLS is running buses for passengers between Preglia and Domodossola, in Italy.
Swiss football boss wants crackdown on individual hooligans
This content was published on
The head of the Swiss Football League says he prefers a harsher approach to individual hooligans rather than collective punishment measures affecting all fans.
Amherd: Council of Europe is ‘as urgently needed as ever’
This content was published on
The Swiss government emphasised on Sunday the vital role of the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe, 75 years after it was founded.
Swiss minister: Italy will back Switzerland in EU talks
This content was published on
Bern can count on the backing of Italy as it re-enters talks with the European Union on future relations, Viola Amherd says.
Student protestors at University of Lausanne continue pro-Palestine sit-in
This content was published on
Since Thursday, a hall on campus has been occupied by students calling for a boycott of Israeli academic institutions and a ceasefire in Gaza.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Moutier vote judged an embarrassment for Swiss democracy
This content was published on
“Shockwave”, “political earthquake”, “mess”: the Swiss newspapers react to the thwarted attempt by the town of Moutier to change cantons.
Four decades on, Switzerland’s newest region is still growing up
This content was published on
Born in 1979, Switzerland’s youngest canton still owes much of its political and economic fate to the federal system that houses it.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.