The sovereign wave also infects Switzerland. Indeed, the Swiss Nationalist Party is trying to boycott relations between Switzerland and the European Union. On Sunday 25 November the Confederation will vote for the referendum “Swiss law instead of foreign judges”, also called "For self-determination". The Unione Democratica di Centro (UDC) brings together the bulk of the anti-EU supporters and aims to establish the higher rank of the Swiss constitution with respect to international treaties. If it were approved, Switzerland would no longer be able to apply the bilateral treaty between the Swiss Confederation and the European Union, nor would it be able to adjust internal regulations. At that point, Bern would have to denounce the existing treaty and renegotiate new agreements with all the states concerned.
It is easy to understand that the main purpose of the UDC is precisely the European Union. Relations between Bern and Brussels are very delicate, not being part of the EU and having rejected entry into the European Economic Area in 1992. Relations between Switzerland and Brussels have been regulated thanks to the Bilateral agreements, approved in Parliament and in popular votes. Until now they were functional, but by now the EU has asked for a revision of the agreements with Switzerland, to prevent future problems. The treaty has not yet been completed because Brexit took over in the meantime.
A possible compromise is to set up an arbitration tribunal, but the UDC has railed against any type of negotiation. In addition, the UDC has carried out a collection of signatures for a no to the free movement of people and to "foreign judges" called to settle the disputes between the two "blocks". Already in 2014, the movement won its first battle by setting limits to free movement. With difficulty, the Swiss government and parliament managed to reach an agreement with the EU. The purpose of the UDC with the no was to drop the bilateral agreements, which it initially approved, but which it later excommunicated. The European Union does not agree to cancel some points of the bilateral agreements, if it has to question them, it will re-discuss them all.
The Government of Bern, which includes all the main parties, and the Parliament, which sided with the no, have taken a stand against the UDC project. The Government points out that the Constitution establishes which treaties are subject to the vote of the people and that in the event of any objections, there are solutions, including changes in the law. Blowing up the system would mean compromising treaties for trade, for the protection of cultural heritage, for environmental protection, for police cooperation, for human rights and more.
Even Economiesuisse, the association of Swiss companies, is on the no side: the EU is Switzerland's main trading partner and the treaties are fundamental. A survey conducted by the Gfs.Bern site at the beginning of November gives 61% no, 37% yes and 2% of undecided. In recent years however, polls taken on many subjects have eventually been proved wrong by vote. The unknown therefore remains.
On Sunday 25 we will also vote for others two referendums: incentives for farmers to ensure that the horns of cows and goats are no longer cut off (the Government is in favor of no) and stricter controls against abuses against social insurance (the Government is in favor of yes).
