A Federação Relojoeira suíça (FH) opõe-se à iniciativa popular, lançada por um movimento conservador isolacionista (AUNS / ASIN / ASNI) que está a exigir a introdução da votação automática e obrigatória, por referendo, nos casos de acordos internacionais, "dado que isso iria atrasar sem necessidade a entrada em vigor de acordos que são importantes para a indústria relojoeira suíça", diz hoje a organização em comunicado:
The Campaign for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland (ASIN) launched the popular initiative «For the strengthening of popular rights in foreign policy, making it mandatory to hold a referendum on international agreements classed as important». It wishes to introduce a compulsory vote on all international agreements touching on important areas, regardless of whether a project is politically controversial or not.
The Constitution stipulates which international agreements must without fail be subject to the vote of the people and the cantons: for example, membership of a supranational organisation such as the European Union. Similarly, the Constitution specifies those categories of treaty for which an optional referendum may be requested by the people (50,000 citizens), for example international agreements of unspecified duration which cannot be reneged upon. The initiative would paralyse our direct democracy.
No country accords as many popular rights to its citizens as Switzerland. The people have the opportunity to express themselves on every important international agreement. Our direct democracy has stood the test of time. By increasing the number of votes on uncontested or highly technical subjects, the initiative of the ASIN would paralyse our democratic system without enhancing the population’s joint decision-making powers. The initiative would increase the number of votes on technical and uncontested subjects. It should be borne in mind that Switzerland signs more than 500 international treaties each year.
Of course, the initiative does not demand a vote on all 500. However it does not define which international treaties are concerned. This is problematical. There are no generally accepted criteria or procedures for evaluating the degree of importance of an international agreement. Endless discussions and conflicts to decide whether or not a treaty requires a compulsory referendum will therefore be inevitable. At all events, the number of popular votes would increase. The initiative would generate considerable costs. Voting on uncontested and very complex treaties would necessarily have to be organised.
Over the past 90 years, 96% of international agreements were uncontested (247 cases). A referendum was required in only ten cases; of these, one was unsuccessful and seven were rejected. The agreement was refused in only two cases. This statistic demonstrates that the system is reasonable and takes into account the interests of the population. The initiative is pointless. The initiative would weaken our country and our negotiators in the international arena.
To vigorously uphold Switzerland’s interests, the Federal Council and our negotiators must be credible in the eyes of their foreign counterparts. Our authorities consult widely with cantons and interested parties both before and during negotiations. The initiative would introduce considerable uncertainties for our negotiators. And excessive calling into question of past agreements, often the result of years of negotiation, would undermine Switzerland’s credibility. Our businesses and our jobs are at stake.
Switzerland earns more than one in every two francs abroad. By needlessly delaying the entry into force of international agreements, the initiative would penalise our economy, with serious consequences for employment. SMEs and large companies rely on this dense network of agreements for access to international markets. Thanks to free-trade agreements, for example, customs duties and other obstacles to trade are eliminated. Our economic success and our prosperity are based on international trade. Our industry benefits fully from such free-trade agreements already in force (in particular with Mexico, South Korea and Japan; there are 28 free-trade agreements) and hopes to benefit from similar arrangements in the near future with India and China (12 free-trade agreements are currently under negotiation). The result of these negotiations cannot be allowed to be jeopardised by this initiative. That is why, in the interest of the Swiss watch industry, the FH, together with other Swiss economic circles, opposes this initiative.
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