{"id":73967,"date":"2025-05-04T13:38:15","date_gmt":"2025-05-04T13:38:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/73967\/"},"modified":"2025-05-04T13:38:15","modified_gmt":"2025-05-04T13:38:15","slug":"swiss-foreign-minister-rejects-mandatory-referendum-for-eu-deals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/73967\/","title":{"rendered":"Swiss foreign minister rejects mandatory referendum for EU deals"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>    <img fetchpriority=\"high\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/658033645_highres.jpg\" width=\"1300\" height=\"867\" alt=\"man in front of flag\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"auto\"\/><\/p>\n<p>                The foreign minister also rejected the accusation that his party, the Radical-Liberal Party, was divided on the issue.             <\/p>\n<p>            Keystone-SDA \/ Anthony Anex        <\/p>\n<p>            Listen to the article        <\/p>\n<p>            Listening the article        <\/p>\n<p>                Toggle language selector            <\/p>\n<ul class=\"read-aloud\/track-selector__options\">\n<li>\n<p>                            English (US)                        <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>                            English (British)                        <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>            Generated with artificial intelligence.        <\/p>\n<p>        Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis defended the government\u2019s decision to make the agreements with the European Union subject to an optional rather than a mandatory referendum.\n<\/p>\n<p>        This content was published on    <\/p>\n<p>        May 4, 2025 &#8211; 11:32\n<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.swissinfo.ch\/eng\/latest-news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>+Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It is clear that a double majority of the people and the cantons would be a \u201csafer decision\u201d, admitted Cassis. However, he warned against a domino effect: \u201cIf they make this decision light-heartedly, then there are other issues that also generate gut feelings,\u201d he told Swiss public television SRF on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>According to the foreign minister, there could be demands for a double majority for free trade agreements with China or Latin American countries, for example. \u201cIf it\u2019s such an easy political balancing act, anyone can come along and claim something.\u201d The federal government is the first guarantor that the constitution is applied correctly.<\/p>\n<p>Cassis also rejected the accusation that his party, the Radical-Liberal Party, was divided on the issue. \u201cWhat they call divided is what I call diversity of opinion. That is the quintessence of democracy,\u201d he said in response to media reports that Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter was in favor of a mandatory referendum.<\/p>\n<p>Translated from German by DeepL\/jdp<\/p>\n<p>How we work<\/p>\n<p>We select the most relevant news for an international audience and use automatic translation tools such as DeepL to translate them into English. A journalist then reviews the translation for clarity and accuracy before publication. Providing you with automatically translated news gives us the time to write more in-depth articles. The news stories we select have been written and carefully fact-checked by an external editorial team from news agencies such as Bloomberg or Keystone.<\/p>\n<p>Did you find this explanation helpful? Please fill out the short survey below to help us understand your needs.<\/p>\n<p>    <img src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/5e9be348074ccdef5bd0b8714f4806aebeef74d7-89260184.jpg\" width=\"1400\" height=\"1050\" alt=\"Swiss cancels flight to Tel Aviv\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/p>\n<p>        More    <\/p>\n<p>        SWISS cancels flight to Tel Aviv following missile attack near Ben Gurion airport    <\/p>\n<p class=\"teaser-wide-card__excerpt\">\n<p>                        This content was published on                    <\/p>\n<p>                        May 4, 2025                    <\/p>\n<p>                After a missile landed near Tel Aviv\u2019s Ben-Gurion Airport, Swiss International Airlines (SWISS) cancelled its flight from Zurich to Tel Aviv on Sunday.            <\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"teaser-wide-card__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.swissinfo.ch\/eng\/various\/swiss-cancels-flight-to-tel-aviv\/89260297?utm_source=multiple&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=news_en&amp;utm_content=o&amp;utm_term=wpblock_news\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p>            Read more: SWISS cancels flight to Tel Aviv following missile attack near Ben Gurion airport<br \/>\n    <\/a><\/p>\n<p>    <img src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/526988014_highres.jpg\" width=\"1300\" height=\"867\" alt=\"rosaries\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/p>\n<p>        More    <\/p>\n<p>        Pro-choice and anti-abortion activists face off in Geneva    <\/p>\n<p class=\"teaser-wide-card__excerpt\">\n<p>                        This content was published on                    <\/p>\n<p>                        May 4, 2025                    <\/p>\n<p>                Anti-abortion Christian groups held a silent prayer in front of the Geneva train station on Saturday, to the whistles and shouts of pro-choice demonstrators.            <\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"teaser-wide-card__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.swissinfo.ch\/eng\/swiss-politics\/pro-and-anti-abortion-activists-face-off-in-geneva\/89259889?utm_source=multiple&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=news_en&amp;utm_content=o&amp;utm_term=wpblock_news\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p>            Read more: Pro-choice and anti-abortion activists face off in Geneva<br \/>\n    <\/a><\/p>\n<p>    <img src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/601b4e0c22919faa9f978e8691651577d71292da-89257413.jpg\" width=\"1400\" height=\"1050\" alt=\"Army soldier seriously injured in accident on Simplon Pass\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/p>\n<p>        More    <\/p>\n<p>        Swiss army soldier seriously injured in accident on Simplon Pass    <\/p>\n<p class=\"teaser-wide-card__excerpt\">\n<p>                        This content was published on                    <\/p>\n<p>                        May 4, 2025                    <\/p>\n<p>                A member of the Swiss army was seriously injured on Friday while manoeuvring a self-propelled howitzer on the Simplon Pass.            <\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"teaser-wide-card__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.swissinfo.ch\/eng\/various\/army-soldier-seriously-injured-in-accident-on-simplon-pass\/89259765?utm_source=multiple&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=news_en&amp;utm_content=o&amp;utm_term=wpblock_news\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p>            Read more: Swiss army soldier seriously injured in accident on Simplon Pass<br \/>\n    <\/a><\/p>\n<p>    <img src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/07a3e471fb234b67376e9062daf5e19994f7fd88-89257992.jpg\" width=\"1400\" height=\"1050\" alt=\"Record attempt as the world's largest over-60s disco before the ESC in Basel\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/p>\n<p>        More    <\/p>\n<p>        Basel attempts world\u2018s largest over-60s disco  before Eurovision Song Contest    <\/p>\n<p class=\"teaser-wide-card__excerpt\">\n<p>                        This content was published on                    <\/p>\n<p>                        May 4, 2025                    <\/p>\n<p>                It was billed as a world record attempt for the biggest over-60s disco of all time. But most visitors came to Basel to have fun.            <\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"teaser-wide-card__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.swissinfo.ch\/eng\/life-aging\/record-attempt-as-the-worlds-largest-over-60s-disco-before-the-esc-in-basel\/89259764?utm_source=multiple&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=news_en&amp;utm_content=o&amp;utm_term=wpblock_news\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p>            Read more: Basel attempts world\u2018s largest over-60s disco  before Eurovision Song Contest<br \/>\n    <\/a><\/p>\n<p>    <img src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/886e07c2abc46b6277fa99dbbc4f696b640dcde9-89254088.jpg\" width=\"1400\" height=\"1050\" alt=\"Basel prepares 700 volunteers for the Eurovision Song Contest\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/p>\n<p>        More    <\/p>\n<p>        Basel prepares 700 volunteers for the Eurovision Song Contest    <\/p>\n<p class=\"teaser-wide-card__excerpt\">\n<p>                        This content was published on                    <\/p>\n<p>                        May 3, 2025                    <\/p>\n<p>                Around 320 people took part in one of the two official information events for the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Basel on Friday.            <\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"teaser-wide-card__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.swissinfo.ch\/eng\/various\/basel-prepares-700-volunteers-for-the-eurovision-song-contest\/89257222?utm_source=multiple&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=news_en&amp;utm_content=o&amp;utm_term=wpblock_news\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p>            Read more: Basel prepares 700 volunteers for the Eurovision Song Contest<br \/>\n    <\/a><\/p>\n<p>    <img src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/72ca6a66747a07fbc59d5853560daa8f6eff030f-89252826.jpg\" width=\"1400\" height=\"1050\" alt=\"Exercise in Austria: more accidents involving Swiss people\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/p>\n<p>        More    <\/p>\n<p>        More Swiss soldiers involved in accidents during training in Austria    <\/p>\n<p class=\"teaser-wide-card__excerpt\">\n<p>                        This content was published on                    <\/p>\n<p>                        May 3, 2025                    <\/p>\n<p>                The Swiss army has reported various accidents involving Swiss soldiers during the exercise \u201cTRIAS 25\u201d in Austria. Some have led to hospitalisations.            <\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"teaser-wide-card__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.swissinfo.ch\/eng\/foreign-affairs\/exercise-in-austria-more-accidents-involving-swiss-people\/89257055?utm_source=multiple&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=news_en&amp;utm_content=o&amp;utm_term=wpblock_news\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p>            Read more: More Swiss soldiers involved in accidents during training in Austria<br \/>\n    <\/a><\/p>\n<p>    <img src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/8582516d5fde7ef98831754f2df5f828c97638f2-89252711.jpg\" width=\"1400\" height=\"1050\" alt=\"No animal names for ersatz vegan meat\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/p>\n<p>        More    <\/p>\n<p>        Swiss court rules vegan meat substitutes can\u2019t use animal names    <\/p>\n<p class=\"teaser-wide-card__excerpt\">\n<p>                        This content was published on                    <\/p>\n<p>                        May 3, 2025                    <\/p>\n<p>                Vegan meat substitutes may not bear animal names such as \u201cplanted.chicken\u201d according to a ruling by the Swiss Federal Supreme Court.            <\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"teaser-wide-card__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.swissinfo.ch\/eng\/swiss-made\/no-animal-names-for-ersatz-vegan-meat\/89256715?utm_source=multiple&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=news_en&amp;utm_content=o&amp;utm_term=wpblock_news\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p>            Read more: Swiss court rules vegan meat substitutes can\u2019t use animal names<br \/>\n    <\/a><\/p>\n<p>    <img src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/d99a5490fc15e86e448ed88dcdab6ae37d4eb06b-89253383.jpg\" width=\"1400\" height=\"1050\" alt=\"Air Force doubles permanently available F\/A-18 fighter jet patrols\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/p>\n<p>        More    <\/p>\n<p>        Swiss Air Force doubles permanently available F\/A-18 fighter jet patrols    <\/p>\n<p class=\"teaser-wide-card__excerpt\">\n<p>                        This content was published on                    <\/p>\n<p>                        May 3, 2025                    <\/p>\n<p>                The Swiss Air Force will double the number of F\/A-18 fighter jet patrols permanently available from one to two.            <\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"teaser-wide-card__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.swissinfo.ch\/eng\/foreign-affairs\/air-force-doubles-permanently-available-f-a-18-fighter-jet-patrols\/89256714?utm_source=multiple&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=news_en&amp;utm_content=o&amp;utm_term=wpblock_news\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p>            Read more: Swiss Air Force doubles permanently available F\/A-18 fighter jet patrols<br \/>\n    <\/a><\/p>\n<p>    <img src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/77099d46b3d05f0933011151cfdb90a8dc69e3b4-89256331.jpg\" width=\"1400\" height=\"1050\" alt=\"Nine Swiss companies achieve top position in climate ranking\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/p>\n<p>        More    <\/p>\n<p>        Nine Swiss companies achieve top position in climate ranking    <\/p>\n<p class=\"teaser-wide-card__excerpt\">\n<p>                        This content was published on                    <\/p>\n<p>                        May 3, 2025                    <\/p>\n<p>                Nine Swiss companies received a top rating from the Climate Disclosure Project for their climate reporting.            <\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"teaser-wide-card__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.swissinfo.ch\/eng\/multinational-companies\/nine-swiss-companies-achieve-top-position-in-climate-ranking\/89256712?utm_source=multiple&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=news_en&amp;utm_content=o&amp;utm_term=wpblock_news\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p>            Read more: Nine Swiss companies achieve top position in climate ranking<br \/>\n    <\/a><\/p>\n<p>    <img src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/e80ca5f8bf1ca9736f63d10f672d38a630caa7af-89253784.jpg\" width=\"1400\" height=\"1050\" alt=\"The Confederation abandons its national coordination project for foreign Travellers\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/p>\n<p>        More    <\/p>\n<p>        Swiss cantons spared duty to create new traveller transit sites    <\/p>\n<p class=\"teaser-wide-card__excerpt\">\n<p>                        This content was published on                    <\/p>\n<p>                        May 2, 2025                    <\/p>\n<p>                Swiss cantons will no longer be formally obliged by the government to create new transit sites for the travelling community.            <\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"teaser-wide-card__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.swissinfo.ch\/eng\/swiss-politics\/the-confederation-abandons-its-national-coordination-project-for-foreign-travellers\/89254163?utm_source=multiple&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=news_en&amp;utm_content=o&amp;utm_term=wpblock_news\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p>            Read more: Swiss cantons spared duty to create new traveller transit sites<br \/>\n    <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The foreign minister also rejected the accusation that his party, the Radical-Liberal Party, was divided on the issue.&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":73968,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5174],"tags":[3907,36655,2000,299,5187,1699,12072,1501,285],"class_list":{"0":"post-73967","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-eu","8":"tag-article","9":"tag-beat-swiss-politics","10":"tag-eu","11":"tag-europe","12":"tag-european","13":"tag-european-union","14":"tag-foreign-affairs","15":"tag-latest-news","16":"tag-politics"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114449842593387911","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73967","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=73967"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73967\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/73968"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=73967"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=73967"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=73967"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}