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27 Sep 2020 Popular Initiative Immigration Vote

27-Sept-20 Zurich votes on tax, maternity pay, defence, conservation

Contents Upcoming Vote September 27 In Switzerland a number of key votes were stalled because of COVID-19 and the impact of coronavirus. This means there are some very important votes which are upcoming and “off the radar” for many non-Swiss. Popular initiative ‘For moderate immigration (Limitation Initiative)’ Yes, you read that correctly. The right of free movement of persons applies between Switzerland and the member states of the European Union (EU). It allows EU citizens to live, work and study in Switzerland, subject to certain requirements, while Swiss citizens can do the same in the EU. The Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (AFMP) is one of the seven bilateral agreements that Switzerland and the EU have negotiated as a package known as Bilaterals I. Bilaterals I gives Swiss businesses direct access to the European market. This measure was successfully proposed by the SVP ( well known for its racist posters which shock visitors and international non-Swiss residents ) and other minor parties. Should the vote be successful, it will act as a break clause on other agreements. If the AFMP is terminated, the other six agreements automatically cease to apply (by virtue of what is known as a

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Zurich vote on LGBT rights 9 Feb 2020

Contents Introduction In Switzerland, young lesbians, gays and bisexuals are the victims of many instances of aggression and homophobic verbal abuse. Unlike their neighbours Austria, France and many other european countries, Switzerland has no legislation affording protection to the LGBT (lesbians, gays, bisexual, transgender) community. On the 9 of February Zurich vote with other Swiss citizens to make a change and to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation. Some background to the vote on LGBT rights The issue of legal rights and the conflict with free speech is at the heart of the debate on the February 2020 vote. Past events and pressure from certain political or religious groups also explain why there will be rainbow flags visible from apartment windows or balconies in Zurich in the run up to the election. It was only in 2016 that “conversion therapy” became effectively illegal in Switzerland following an initiative by Conservative Democrat MP Rosmarie Quadranti. In August 2017, in response to a motion proposed by the BDP (Conservative Democratic Party), the Swiss Government announced that it would not count and register hate crimes committed against members of the LGBT community. The Government claimed it was too difficult to define or track these

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