Swiss Review 4/2019

Swiss Review / July 2019 / No.4 27 Federal votes The Federal Council determines voting proposals at least four months before the voting date. National Council elections take place on 20 October 2019. For information about the National Council elec­ tions, visit www.ch.ch/en/elections2019 . Everything you need to know about voting proposals (voting pamphlets, committees, recommendations by Parliament and the Federal Council, electronic voting, etc.) is available at www.admin.ch/votes or via the Federal Chancellery’s VoteInfo app. The Federal Council has decided not to hold a federal popular vote on 24November 2019. The next voting date is 9 February 2020. Popular initiatives The following federal popular initiatives have already been launched at the time of going to press (deadline for the collection of signatures in brackets): ■ ■ ‘For a pensions system that respects all generations (Yes to pensions – but make the system fair)’ (02.10.2020) ■ ■ ‘Yes to ending seasonal time changes’ (09.10.2020) ■ ■ ‘For a healthy climate (Glacier Initiative)’ (30.10.2020) The list of pending popular initiatives is available in German at www.bk.admin.ch > Politische Rechte > Volks­ initiativen > Hängige Volksinitiativen The original interview was published on swissinfo.ch, the online service of the Swiss Broadcasting Company, which is available in ten languages. Do you live abroad too? Then tag your Instagram photos #WeAreSwissAbroad. ‘No worries’ for Swiss family in New Zealand Even though she’d never been there before, Eva Hefti took the chance and moved with her family to New Zealand. It’s the pleasant climate the 39-year-old from Bern loves most about New Zealand. My job: I don’t have a paid job, I spend most of my time with our chil- dren. However, together with some of my friends, I am still working on our online family magazine Kleinstadt.ch which helps me find a good balance. My New Zealand: Our everyday life is not that different from in Switzerland, apart from the fact that my husband’s working hours are much shorter. This enables us to spend more time together and go to the beach or venture out into the outdoors. We really like the vastness and the empty beautiful beaches as well as the pleasant cli- mate. The mentality of the people is generally more relaxed than in Switzerland. ‘No worries’ is a typical Kiwi saying. My Switzerland: We are planning to stay here for about two years and then go back to Switzerland. The low population density, the lack of public transport and the remoteness are probably the big- gest differences to Switzerland. I have realized that the Swiss are of- ten too perfectionist and that some things could also be done with less effort. My heart: Although I speak English fluently, I have noticed that especially deep and meaningful conversations are not as easy for me as in my mother tongue, which I find sometimes inhibiting. And even though we have made friends, it’s somewhat different to spend time with people who have only known you for a short pe- riod of time. THE SWISS ABROAD ON INSTAGRAM Responsible for the FDFA official communications: Simone Flubacher, Relations with the Swiss Abroad Effingerstrasse 27, 3003 Berne, Switzerland Tel. +41 800 24 7 365 or +41 58 465 33 33 www.eda.admin.ch , email: helpline@eda.admin.ch