Swiss Review 6/2020

Swiss Review / November 2020 / No.6 3 Switzerland works by direct democracy. Everyone is regularly invited to go to the polls and have their say in national politics. This deeply embedded culture of co-determinationwas suspended by the pandemic for a fewmonths before returning emphatically in early autumn. “Super Sunday” on 27 September saw an ex- tremely high turnout as the people had their say on a number of significant issues. Top of the list was a re- sounding no from the Swiss electorate to the SVP’s “limitation initiative”, which clarified Switzerland’s position towards the EuropeanUnion (EU). Vot- ers want to maintain the current partnership-based bilateral arrangement with the EU. If the initiative had passed, it would havemost certainlymarked the end of the close relationship between Switzerland and the EU. As a non-EU coun- try, Switzerland cannot leave the EU. Yet for Switzerland, surrounded by EU member states, terminating the bilateral agreements would have been on a par with such a scenario. The people expressed themselves clearly, but this should not be inter- preted as a ringing endorsement of Brussels. The relationship between Swit- zerland and the EU is one of conflicting perspectives. On the one hand, close proximity naturally results in economic, cultural and even personal inter- dependence. However, most Swiss are not primarily supporters of the EU as an institution; their interest lies more in a Europe of open borders with free- dom of movement – something that people value even more now since the lockdown showed us just how small our country really is when the borders are closed. The people opted for a pragmatic approach: “European openness” and accessibility means having a regulated relationship with the EU. The eligible voters of the “Fifth Switzerland” mainly live in the EU and their support for the bilateral relationshipwas particularly strong. Nonethe- less, that does notmean Switzerland and the EU are nowready to ride offhap- pily into the sunset. Nothing could be further from the reality. Partnerships work by establishing agreements – and the diplomatic back and forth over the small print of the bilateral agreements will continue. The stage is set for further drama, as we explain in this edition’s Focus report. MARC LETTAU, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Editorial 5 Mailbag 8 Focus The Switzerland-EU relationship is becoming very complicated 10 Society COVID-19 pandemic – just when you thought the worst was over The ibex is the “kings of the Alps”. Why was it ever wiped out? Swiss city dwellers – increasingly forgoing their own car 18 Report Switzerland’s only official hermit is anything but lonely 21 Literature 22 Science Swiss soil acoustics – listening to the chattering grubs in the ground 25 Politics 27 September was a political “Super Sunday” – the results Switzerland to decide whether to enforce a nationwide burka ban Palm oil imports face stiff opposition 31 OSA news 36 news.admin.ch 38 Books / Sounds 39 Top pick / News Contents Switzerland and Europe Cover photo: Ibex, photographed on the Niederhorn (BE) by Martin Mägli, www.naturbild.ch “Swiss Review”, the information magazine for the “Fifth Switzerland”, is published by the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA).