7,528 Swiss Abroad from Basel are unable to vote Autor(en): Schenk, Peter Objekttyp: Article Zeitschrift: Swiss review : the magazine for the Swiss abroad Band (Jahr): 44 (2017) Heft 1 PDF erstellt am: 03.10.2021 Persistenter Link: http://doi.org/10.5169/seals-906884 Nutzungsbedingungen Die ETH-Bibliothek ist Anbieterin der digitalisierten Zeitschriften. Sie besitzt keine Urheberrechte an den Inhalten der Zeitschriften. Die Rechte liegen in der Regel bei den Herausgebern. Die auf der Plattform e-periodica veröffentlichten Dokumente stehen für nicht-kommerzielle Zwecke in Lehre und Forschung sowie für die private Nutzung frei zur Verfügung. Einzelne Dateien oder Ausdrucke aus diesem Angebot können zusammen mit diesen Nutzungsbedingungen und den korrekten Herkunftsbezeichnungen weitergegeben werden. Das Veröffentlichen von Bildern in Print- und Online-Publikationen ist nur mit vorheriger Genehmigung der Rechteinhaber erlaubt. Die systematische Speicherung von Teilen des elektronischen Angebots auf anderen Servern bedarf ebenfalls des schriftlichen Einverständnisses der Rechteinhaber. Haftungsausschluss Alle Angaben erfolgen ohne Gewähr für Vollständigkeit oder Richtigkeit. Es wird keine Haftung übernommen für Schäden durch die Verwendung von Informationen aus diesem Online-Angebot oder durch das Fehlen von Informationen. Dies gilt auch für Inhalte Dritter, die über dieses Angebot zugänglich sind. Ein Dienst der ETH-Bibliothek ETH Zürich, Rämistrasse 101, 8092 Zürich, Schweiz, www.library.ethz.ch http://www.e-periodica.ch 16 Politics 7,528 Swiss Abroad from Basel are cantonal legislation, which it is not. Aargau's Cantonal Counciljustified its unable to vote rejectionist stance in November 2012 in its response to an interpellation submitted by Kim Lara Schweri In canton Basel-Stadt, the Swiss Abroad have no right to vote at cantonal level. The situation (Greens) which was only signed by one is different in the neighbouring cantons of Basel-Landschaft, Solothurn and Jura as well as in other Council member. seven other cantons. The Cantonal Parliament has thus far consistently rejected an extension of the right to vote in Basel-Stadt. "The connection disappears" PETER SCHENK Basel-Landschaft, for example, where On the subject of Swiss people who The Swiss Abroad from canton Ba- the Swiss Abroad can also vote at have lived abroad for a long period of sel-Stadt have been able to take part in cantonal level. Exactly the same provisions time or on a permanent basis, the the Council of States elections since apply in the cantons of council said: "The connection with the end of 2013. The Cantonal Parliament's Solothurn and Jura. Extending Aargau disappears over time and clear decision was preceded by participation to cantonal elections cantonal issues and elections become of fierce debate; in particular the Liberal and referenda has been "discussed much less interest than to citizens Democratic Party (LDP) refused to several times but rejected by the living here. Such persons eligible to vote give way. They argued that only those Cantonal Parliament thus far", according sometimes no longer even have a affected should be able to have their to government spokesperson Marco command of the German language." Guy say. This was not the case for people Greiner. At the Cantonal Council and Morin (Greens), the former President living in Timbuktu, said André Aud- Cantonal Parliament elections last ofthe Cantonal Council in Basel, uses erset (LDP) at the time on behalfofhis October, the 7,528 former Basel residents, a similar line of argument in relation parliamentary group. However, the who were able to take part in the to cantonal voting rights for the Swiss main argument for giving the right to Council ofStates elections for the first Abroad: "There has to be a relationship vote to Swiss Abroad from Basel was time in 2015, therefore still had no say. for cantonal elections, which is lost the fact that they have been able to when people are away for a long period take part in National Council elections A voice through the referendum oftime." He also argues that Basel is a since 1992. Excluding them from the city canton and he cannot imagine Council of States elections was therefore This is notthe same everywhere. There that the Swiss Abroad have a vote in illogical. The legislative amend- are ten cantons in Switzerland where other cities. the Swiss Abroad can vote at cantonal The conservative politician Baschi level. In the neighbouring canton of Dürr is more open. He could personally Solothurn, this goes back to a referendum understand the argument that "it in 1980 while in Basel-Landschaft would be strange if a citizen of Basel the applicable law entered into force residing abroad in Argentina could in 1981. The issue was discussed three vote on the redesign of a square in Basel times in the Cantonal Parliament in but not someone from Basel-Landschaft 1978, according to Basel-Landschaft's or a foreigner living in Basel Cantonal Chancellery. In Jura, the who passes through it every day." He provision has existed since the canton could nevertheless envisage an was founded in 1979. In contrast, amendment and wrote: "I would not Zurich, like Basel, restricts the right to rule out the idea of a general right to vote to the Council of States elections. vote for the Swiss Abroad in canton Ba- In northwestern Switzerland, canton sel-Stadt ifthis were put forward from The Swiss Abroad ment was eventually approved with Aargau is the most restrictive the ranks ofthe Cantonal Parliament." from canton 80 votes in favour and 7 against. when it comes to voting rights for the Basel-Stadt can still The Swiss Abroad from Basel are Swiss Abroad. The 7,005 Swiss Abroad only take part in nevertheless still from taking here take in national votes. In the prevented registered can only part photo: Polling station part in cantonal elections. In this, the National Council elections. in the Basel Rathaus the otherwise liberal canton Ba- Participation in the Council of States Photo: Keystone sel-Stadt is more conservative than elections is only possible ifprovided for by PETER SCHENK IS A JOURNALIST WITH "BZ BASEL" Swiss Review / January 2017 / No. 1.