Sonntag, Juni 01, 2008

Right wing citizenship vote clearly defeated

A propposal to reinstate the use of the ballot box to decide on naturalisation applications appears to have been rejected by voters.

Results are expected shortly, but there are increasing indications that the plan, by the rightwing Swiss People's Party, will not muster the necessary majority of the electorate.

Two other issues - the latest reform of health system and plans to limit the information policy of the federal authorities - are also heading for rejection in Sunday's vote, according to the gfs.berne polling and research institute.

Five years ago the Federal Court outlawed the ballot box as a way of dealing with citizenship requests. It followed a series of allegedly discriminatory decisions, particularly against people of Balkan origin.

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