SUSANNE WENGER Swiss citizens can put political issues on the agenda by launching popular initiatives. They first have to collect at least 100,000 signatures. Some proposals that clear this hurdle prompt head-scratching abroad. How about cow horns in 2018? Pyrotechnics could be this year’s equivalent – because of an initiative submitted in 2023 that seeks to ban the sale and private use of loud fireworks (see “Swiss Review” 3/2025). Campaigners – spearheaded by Roman Huber, a dog trainer and former journalist from Aargau, and Corinne Meister, an IT expert and animal owner from St Gallen – have stressed that they do not want a blanket ban. Lownoise fireworks like volcano fountains would be exempt, as would public firework displays on public holidays like Swiss National Day on 1 August, subject to cantonal approval. The initiative is backed by three animal welfare groups, including Swiss Animal Protection (SAP), which has a large membership base. The initiators of the proposal say that house pets, livestock, and wild animals need to be spared the distress and disruption caused by the detonation and visual effects of rockets and firecrackers. The noise is also harmful to people, they argue. Particulate matter from fireworks is a health risk, while pollutants find their way into soil and water. There are also over 200 accidents involving fireworks every year, they note. Opponents warn of overregulation The federal government has rejected the initiative. A majority in parliament also oppose it, their main thrust being that the proposal will lead to overregulation. Cantons and municipalities already have the authority to restrict fireworks – as they did during this year’s National Day celebrations because of the dry conditions posing a fire hazard. Numerous municipalities have already imposed permanent restrictions or bans, with the popular mountain and tourist regions of Grisons taking the lead. Fireworks are a tradition on Swiss National Day, not to mention an increasingly integral part of New Year’s Eve celebrations, say opponents of the initiative, who warn of the business impact of a nationwide ban and call on people to show tolerance and accountability instead. Nevertheless, both parliamentary chambers initially backed a counterproposal offering a watered-down version of what was on the table. In particular, lawmakers suggested banning firecrackers that produce a bang but no visual display. However, the National Council surprisingly threw out its own amendments in the final vote of the summer session, taking the counterproposal off the table – the result of an unlikely cross-party alliance between right and left. The conservative SVP and FDP thought the counterproposal overstepped the mark, while the Greens deemed it too soft. Only the original initiative will be put to voters. No more fireworks? Animal welfare and environment groups have tabled an initiative that seeks to ban the sale and private use of loud fireworks across Switzerland. The proposal will be put to the vote of the people and the cantons on 29 November 2026 – after parliament rejected a counterproposal at the very last moment. Not everyone wants fireworks – a popular initiative is seeking to restrict their use across Switzerland. Pictured: the 2022 Swiss National Day celebration in Lausanne. Photo: Keystone 10 Politics Swiss Review / October 2026 / No. 4
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