Switzerland said yes this Sunday to marriage for all, according to the first trends published immediately after the close of polling stations on Sunday. The yes would reach 64%. The estimates published by the polling institute gfs.bern therefore seem to confirm without surprise what predicted all the polls preceding the election, which have always given a clear majority to the supporters of the opening of marriage to same-sex couples. The projection suggests a higher than expected “yes” score.
By rejecting the initiative taken by opponents of a project launched by the federal government, the Alpine country is therefore aligning itself with the vast majority of Western European countries. The non camp had regained its colors as the date of the vote approached but remains very largely in the minority. The last survey conducted by the gfs.bern institute between September 1 and 9 gave 55% yes and 27% no. Its previous opinion poll between August 2 and August 16 showed a larger gap at 55-20%.
A register of homosexuals in certain cantons until 1990
The poll highlighted that certain religious groups and members of the Central Democratic Union (UDC) were the main opponents, but within these groups there is no lack of yes supporters. Switzerland decriminalized homosexuality in 1942, but various municipal or cantonal police forces had – in some cases until the beginning of the 1990s – registers listing homosexuals.
Same-sex couples can already enter into a civil pact, but the new text provides that same-sex couples can adopt a child jointly. Female couples will also be able to resort to sperm donation, one of the most controversial points. The opponents focused their campaign – which was marked by shock posters – on this point, deploring the commodification of the child and judging that “marriage for all kills the father”.
Another rejected tax initiative
On one of their posters, you can see a crying baby, with an ear tag usually reserved for cattle, and this question: “Babies made to order?” In another, a huge zombie head, supposed to represent a deceased father, stares at passers-by. A primary school in Valais decided to cover it because it frightened children.
On the other hand, according to the estimates of the institute gfs.bern, the voters rejected a second proposal which was submitted to them this Sunday and launched at the initiative of the young people of the Socialist Party which has for slogan “Money does not work, you yes ! And which was quickly nicknamed the Robin Hood initiative. The initiative called for income from capital – interest, dividends, for example – to be taxed 1.5 times more than income from labor.
An exemption from this tax to the tune of, for example, 100,000 francs per year is foreseen but the additional tax revenues would be used to reduce the taxation of low and middle incomes or to finance social benefits such as crèches, subsidies to the child. health insurance or training, emphasizes the site of supporters of this proposal. The polls already gave the losing initiative.