Background on local and national Swiss votes 29 November, GenevaLunch
Update 16:40 Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Swiss voters turned Sunday voted to ban the construction of new minarets in the country, with 57.5 percent of voters approving the initiative and 42.5 percent opposed to it. The vote went along language lines, with Swiss Germans voting for the ban and French speakers voting against, although cantons with both languages, such as Valais and Bern, voted soundly to support the ban.
The result is widely seen as a slap in the face to the government, which has strongly opposed the initiative. But it will also be read as a vote against the current situation of Muslims in Switzerland, say most Swiss media. On the one hand, approving the ban will send a signal that the Swiss are worried about “creeping Islamization”, a phrase that was used by the UDC (right-wing People’s Party) during the campaign, and on the other hand, a signal that Muslim ghettoes are not acceptable, reports Swissinfo. The Muslim population has increased by about 350,000 and is now around 4.5 percent of the Swiss population, according to Swissinfo.
Switzerland set to continue arms exports
Voters rejected by 68 percent, early results indicate, a popular initiative to stop Swiss arms exports.
Geneva says yes to Ceva regional transport, Vésenaz tunnel
The years of debate are over for Ceva, the regional transport system that would link Geneva to Annemasse. Voters approved by nearly 62 percent a CHF113 million credit that will allow the project to go ahead. They also approved the covered tunnel for Vésenaz.
Map of incoming results on TSR: “la carte”
Geneva, Switzerland (Genevalunch) – Switzerland votes Sunday 29 November on three issues: construction of minarets, Swiss arms sales abroad, spending airplane fuel tax revenues. The Swiss generally vote four times a year on a variety of federal issues. Voters will also have cantonal issues to decide Sunday: in Geneva, they will be asked to approve financing for two construction projects, Vaud votes on extending a nuclear power plant’s operations, Valais votes on a law governing tourism, and Neuchatel’s citizens will be asked to approve a new energy law.
Swiss-wide, minarets issue has sparked heated debate
The minaret initiative was proposed by the right-wing UDC (People’s Party), which wants to prohibit the construction of minarets in Switzerland.
We're not going anywhere
Lausanne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The planned light rail line connecting Cornavin-Eaux Vives-Annemasse (Ceva) was delayed again by Switzerland’s administrative high court, in a decision made public 8 September. Two of the project’s partners, canton Geneva and CFF, Swiss federal railways, had asked the court to lift about 60 injunctions against the project, arguing that the delays were costing money. The court rejected the plaintiffs’ argument, stating that the project must address the 318 different objections to the plans before it can proceed.
Not long to wait
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Opponents to the planned light rail extension known as Ceva, which will link Geneva’s Cornavin and Eaux-Vives stations and Annemasse, handed in 12,700 signatures, almost 5,000 more than necessary, to force citizens in the canton to vote on it. Voters will decide on a supplementary credit of CHF 113 million towards the project that Geneva’s parliament voted for in June.
The referendum’s date has not yet been fixed.
Lausanne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The Swiss high court has ruled against a group that is fighting the planned regional transport system, Ceva, that would link the Geneva region and neighbouring France by rail. The group had argued for a line that would avoid Champel and be moved further south, towards the Salève. The court ruled that the new proposal runs against federal law and included a reminder in its decision that the Cornavin – Eaux-Vives – Annemasse project agreement dates back to an accord reached in 1912.
Geneva, Switzerland (20 Minutes, Fre) – A Swiss federal administrative court ruled Friday that work cannot go ahead on the urban transport project for the greater Geneva area, Ceva.
The start of the project, a venture between the Swiss national CFF rail company and Geneva, has been held up by some 60 objections filed, and the administrative court says these must be dealt with before work begins.
Related: Tit for tat … GenevaLunch, 15 January 2009
Geneva, Switzerland (Le Temps, Fre) – Geneva Tuesday presented details including likely routes and timetables, for an RER urban transport plan that is designed to greatly reduce automobile traffic in the greater Geneva area in Switzerland and France. The new project was signed by French, Geneva and Vaud authorities in March 2008 and will link by train a stretch from Coppet in Vaud to Annecy in France.
