Swiss Review 6/2020

Swiss Review / November 2020 / No.6 9 The share of the “Fifth Switzerland” who said no (78 per cent) was about 16 percentage points higher on average than for Switzerland as a whole (61.7 per cent), according to the results of twelve cantons, which count the Swiss Abroad votes separately (see chart). The other cantons can- not provide the same breakdown. Nonetheless, the twelve cantons displayed are highly representative as they ac- count for over 70 per cent of Swiss Abroad in the electoral register: 133,000 out of 181,000 in total. Opposition to the limitation initiative from Swiss Abroad registered in rural cantons exceeded the average by over 30 percentage points – in Uri and Appenzell In- nerrhoden, for example. The latter is one of four cantons that actually supported the initiative, the other three be- ing Schwyz, Glarus and Ticino. The “Fifth Switzerland” defends international mobility Almost 80 per cent of Swiss Abroad opposed the limitation initiative. The end of free movement, demanded by the SVP, would have dealt a hard blow to the 460,000 Swiss living in EU countries. For RemoGysin, President of theOrganisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA), this emphatic statement from the “Fifth Switzerland” came as no surprise. “These results under- line the importance of freedom of movement and inter- national mobility,” he said, adding that freedom of move- ment was themechanism that allowed Swiss towork and settle in any EUmember state. International mobilitywas in the interests of all Swiss, regardless of whether they cur- rently lived in Switzerland or abroad. Besides social and economic security, it was crucially important that all Swiss were treated the same as EU citizens at the work- place and in relation to taxes and social welfare. This in- cludes the right to remain in an EU country after having worked there. Many were unable to vote Voter turnout in Switzerland on 27 September was a high 60 per cent, compared to a mere 30 per cent of the Swiss Abroad. Many frustrated voters contacted the OSA after polling day to express their disappointment at having re- ceived their official voting papers too late. Those living overseaswere particularly affected. TheOSA subsequently sent amessage to all 26 cantons, calling on themto adhere to the statutory notice period and issue eligible voters liv- ing abroad with their official voting papers five weeks be- fore each voting date. According to the OSA, only two can- tons actuallymanaged to do this for the 27 September vote. Some 460,000 of the 770,900 Swiss expatriate popu- lation reside in EU member states. A quarter of all Swiss Abroad (199,800) live in France. The next largest expatri- ate communities live in Germany (92,200) and the USA (81,100). THEODORA PETER 57,6% 50 % 45,7% 80,0% 74,7% 80,8% 64,6% 76,0% 69,0% 80,6% 59,8% 77,4% 55,7% 76,8% 56,7% 72,0% 50,4% 83,8% 70,9% 78,5% 62,0% 61.7% 75,1% 65,7% 80,5% 76,8% 26,8 % 31,4 % 32,3 % 32,5 % 32,6 % 31,3 % 31,6 % 36,4 % 31,7 % 30,2 % 28,8 % 59,5 % 25,8 % Proportion of No votes overall Proportion of No votes among the “Fifth Switzerland” Voter turnout among the “Fifth Switzerland” Aargau Appenzell Innerrhoden Basel-Stadt Fribourg Geneva Lucerne Thurgau St. Gallen Uri Vaud Valais Zurich Switzerland overall Only the above-listed cantons published the votes of the Swiss Abroad separately. The highest percentages are shown in red in each category.