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2002 Swiss referendums

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Eight referendums were held in Switzerland during 2002.[1] The first two were held on 3 March on popular initiatives for Switzerland to join the United Nations and to reduce working hours. UN membership was approved, whilst the shorter working hours proposal was rejected.[1] The next two were held on 2 June on amending the penal code regarding abortion, which was approved, and a popular initiative "for mother and child", which was rejected.[1]

The next set referendums was held on 22 September, with a popular initiative on adding surplus gold reserves to the country's pension fund and a counter-proposal, as well as a federal law on the electricity market. All three were rejected.[1] The final two referendums were held on 24 November on a popular initiative "against misuse of asylum rights" and a federal law on compulsory unemployment insurance and compensation for insolvencies. The asylum proposal was rejected, whilst the federal law was approved.[1]

Results

[edit]
Month Question For Against Blank/invalid Total Registered
voters
Turnout Cantons for Cantons against
Votes % Votes % Blank Invalid Full Half Full Half
March United Nations membership 1,489,110 54.6 1,237,629 45.4 20,386 11,800 2,758,925 4,721,422 58.4 11 2 9 4
Reducing working hours 686,935 25.4 2,021,198 74.6 30,981 11,665 2,750,779 58.3 0 0 20 6
June Strafgesetzbuch amendment on abortion 1,399,545 72.2 540,105 27.8 30,008 8,465 1,978,123 4,730,594 41.8
Popular initiative "for mother and child" 352,432 18.2 1,578,870 81.8 32,912 8,382 1,972,596 41.7 0 0 20 6
September Surplus gold reserves into pension fund[a] 984,058 46.4 1,085,072 51.1 10,997 9,663 2,143,027 4,744,197 45.2 6 0 14 6
Counter-proposal on gold reserves[a] 984,537 46.4 1,057,398 49.8 10,997 9,663 2,143,027 49.8 6 1 14 5
Electricity market law 972,770 47.4 1,078,412 52.6 62,974 11,058 2,125,214 44.8
November Popular initiative on asylum 1,119,342 49.9 1,123,550 50.1 23,749 9,941 2,276,582 4,749,994 47.9
Federal law on unemployment insurance 1,234,793 56.1 966,430 43.9 50,879 10,019 2,262,121 47.6
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

a In the referendum with the counter-proposal voters could also give no answer. For the main question 53,237 voters (2.5%) did not answer, whilst for the counter-proposal 80,432 (3.8%) did not answer.[2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1943 ISBN 9783832956097
  2. ^ Switzerland, 22 September 2002: Surplus gold reserves into the AHV Funds (Gold Initiative) with counter-proposal Direct Democracy (in German)