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Geneva news roundup: Could foreign nationals get the right to vote?

Extending political rights to foreigners and being more careful when crossing the street — read this and other news from Switzerland's second-largest city Geneva.

Published: 12 January 2023 11:23 CET
Geneva news roundup: Could foreign nationals get the right to vote?
Make sure to look both ways when crossing a street in Geneva. Photo: Pixabay

Geneva wants to extend foreigners’ political rights 

During its session on Wednesday, the Council of State confirmed the validity of the initiative called “A life here, a voice here,” which calls for the canton to grant foreign nationals the right to vote.  

Currently, foreigners who have lived in Geneva for more than eight years can vote, but only in communal elections.

But cantonal authorities believe that “greater inclusion of the different categories of the population would strengthen our democracy.”

The vote on this issue is due to be held on April 2nd.  

READ MORE: Foreign residents in Geneva could get voting rights

And speaking of foreign nationals…
 
At 41 percent, Geneva has the highest concentration of foreign population in Switzerland — but who exactly are these people?

More detailed information can be gleaned from Geneva’s Statistical Office (OCSTAT). 

It shows that out of nearly 512,000 residents, 36,000 are French nationals (not surprising, given Geneva’s proximity to France and common language), followed by Portuguese (32,000), and Italians (20,000); 44,000 are  from other European countries.

About 20,000 residents come from America and the same number from Asia.

Geneva is the most dangerous canton for pedestrians
 
If you live in Geneva, make sure to look both ways when crossing the street.

That’s because it is the most dangerous canton for pedestrians, according to the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO).

With 2.7 road accidents involving pedestrians per 10,000 inhabitants, Geneva is ahead of Zurich (2.5) and Nidwalden (2.5).

However, motorists are not the only ones responsible for the accidents — careless pedestrians are also to blame.

“In a third of accidents, pedestrians are at fault, due to their inattention,” when crossing the road, said Alexandre Brahier, a spokesperson for Geneva’s police. 

READ MORE: MAPS: Which Swiss canton has the worst drivers?

Police are polling Genevans to find out their main safety concerns

The Geneva police are launching a major population study to determine the residents’ needs and expectations in terms of security.

The findings will help the police in six of the canton’s municipalities — Geneva, Carouge, Lancy, Meyrin, Plan-les-Ouates, and Vernier —to  set crime-fighting priorities.

READ MORE: The downsides of Geneva you should be aware of before moving there

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POLITICS

Could Geneva be first Swiss canton to grant foreign residents more voting rights?

Voters in the country’s most "international" canton Geneva will soon have their say on whether non-Swiss citizens living in their midst should have more political rights.

Published: 29 April 2024 12:19 CEST
Could Geneva be first Swiss canton to grant foreign residents more voting rights?

Foreigners are not allowed to vote on national level anywhere in Switzerland.

Though there had been attempts in the past to change this rule, the latest such move was turned down by legislators in 2022.

However, five cantons are permitting foreign residents to cast their votes in local referendums and elections: Geneva, Vaud, Fribourg, Neuchâtel, and Jura. Conditions vary from one canton to another, but in all cases a certain length of stay and a residence permit are required.

(In Zurich, a similar move was rejected in 2023).

Of the five cantons, only Neuchâtel and Jura authorise foreign residents to vote on cantonal level in addition to communal one; in the others, they can cast municipal ballots only. 

Additionally, three other cantons have similar laws on their books, but they this legislation remains mostly inactive.

Basel-City, Graubünden, and Appenzell-Ausserrhoden have authorised their communes to introduce the right to vote, the right to elect, and the right to be elected for their non-Swiss residents. 

However, only few of the communes in these cantons have actually introduced these measures.

Wait…Geneva’s foreigners already have the right to vote?

Yes, they have had this right since 2005, but only on municipal level.

However, this could change on June 9th, when Geneva residents will go to the polls to weigh in on an initiative launched by the trade unions and political left, calling for foreigners who have lived in the canton for at least eight years, to be able to vote and stand as candidates for political offices at the cantonal level.

This ‘upgrade’ to the cantonal voting rights is important, supporters argue, because it would enable foreigners to have more political impact.

“Municipal votes are quite rare, and the issues at stake are relatively limited,” the initiative committee said.

Therefore, “access to the cantonal vote will allow these same people to express their views on wider subjects that affect them on a daily basis.”

Is this  measure likely to be accepted?

No reliable forecasts exist at this point.

And while foreigners constitute nearly 40 percent of Geneva’s population — the highest proportion in Switzerland —  it will be up to Swiss citizens to decide on the outcome.

However, some members of the Geneva parliament are urging the ‘no’ vote on June 9th.

“No canton, no country, provides such generous rights to their foreigners,” the MPs from the centre parties pointed out in an interview with Tribune de Genève over the weekend.

(Neuchâtel and Jura allow voting, but not standing for election, at cantonal level).

“The only path for foreigners to obtain full political rights is through naturalisation,” the MPs added.

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