The Swiss Parliament building in Bern, Switzerland, June 17, 2021. Getty Images/Stefan Wermuth/Bloomberg
In Switzerland, on November 30 a referendum will take place, where citizens will choose between preserving the current military service for men and introducing mandatory civilian service for all, regardless of gender. Alongside this direct-democracy question, there is talk of introducing new taxes on the ultra-rich to fund measures to combat climate change.
The “Civil Duty” initiative initially gained significant support, but in recent weeks its popularity has waned: according to recent polls, the majority of those surveyed are opposed.
“Whether in the army, civil defense, civil service, or voluntary fire service, the idea is that every young person should contribute to the collective welfare,”
– Noemi Roten
The committee behind the initiative argues that requiring military service or civilian service will strengthen social cohesion and ensure “true equality” in society.
Along with this, the initiative aims to provide women with equal opportunities to participate in the collective effort to protect the population.
“And now you are asking women to provide even more unpaid services. This will only worsen the imbalance,”
– Cyrille Hugueno
Opponents of the initiative question its impact on real equality, while the government notes that increasing the number of recruits may exceed needs and harm the country’s economy.
According to the latest polls, none of the proposed ballot initiatives has any chance of being adopted.
Outlook and Public Expectations
Current findings indicate that the outcome of the vote will remain open to public discussion, but for now opposition to both initiatives prevails.
Ultimately, voters must decide whether to support one path or another, which could influence defense, the social contract, and the country’s financial policy.