Swiss vote for Corona law: “A majority for reason”

Status: 11/28/2021 8:20 p.m.

In the midst of a new wave of infections, a clear majority of the Swiss voted in favor of the government’s Covid law. But the opponents announced further resistance.

By Kathrin Hondl, ARD Studio Geneva

The Swiss have said “yes”: a clear majority gave their approval of the current Covid-19 law even more clearly than the surveys would have led one to expect. A victory for reason, says Peter Metzinger, the head of the civil society “Yes Committee”, visibly relieved.

“We were actually always sure that a majority in Switzerland was for common sense and for science orientation and facts. Of course, things could have turned out differently, and that’s why we gave everything up to the last moment. But it just shows that reason rules in Switzerland, “said Metzinger on Swiss television SRF.

Opponents want to keep fighting

62 percent voted for the Covid law – the basis, among other things, for the heavily controversial 3G certificate – the “vaccinated, recovered, tested” certificate, which in Switzerland must be shown in restaurants and at events, among other places.

In the past few weeks there had been loud and sometimes violent protests by opponents of measures and vaccinations against the certificate. Supported by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party SVP and influential donors, the “No Committee” not only dominated the debates, but also with a striking number of posters in the public space before the referendum.

Now it is a matter of accepting defeat. “For better or worse,” says Josef Ender, the spokesman for the “No Committee” and co-founder of a so-called “action alliance for the original cantons” against the government’s corona measures. But they will continue to fight against the law.

Swiss vaccination rate comparatively low

This was also announced by the parliamentarian Martina Bircher. Your party, the SVP, was the only major Swiss party to call for the rejection of the Covid law in the referendum. “We at SVP, we will try very clearly to show the Federal Council a red line as to where it can use the certificate,” said Bircher. There should be no expansion to the 2G regulation.

Similar to Germany, the number of new corona infections has increased dramatically in Switzerland in the past few weeks. The vaccination rate in the country is comparatively low at around 65 percent. Despite urgent recommendations from science, the Swiss government has so far refrained from tightening the pandemic measures nationwide. This may change now – after the clear vote of the Swiss electorate.

Switzerland after “yes” to Covid law

Kathrin Hondl, ARD Geneva, 11/28/2021 7:19 p.m.

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