Valais: The Proposal for a New Constitution Clearly Rejected

In this way, two popular initiatives were proposed to Swiss citizens: a modification of Old-Age and Survivors' Insurance (OASI) pensions--in other words, retirement benefits--through the addition of a "thirteenth month," which means an increase of around 8%. Despite the encouragement of the Federal Council and of Parliament to vote "no," the initiative received more than 58% of "yes" votes and a majority of cantons in favor.

On the other hand, the initiative calling to raise the retirement age for men and women to 66 years old, then having retirement age continue to rise according to life expectancy, was swept away by close to 75% of "no" votes and did not do well in any canton.

A Proposal for a New Constitution in Valais

In the canton of Valais, another object was proposed for the voters' choice: a new constitution to replace that of 1907, the first to date. The proposal was launched in August 2015 by a "non-partisan" committee, and went through a popular initiative: on March 4, 2018, the proposal gathered 72.8% of the "yes" vote, and by 61.5% it was entrusted to a Constituent Assembly.

The members of the Constituent Assembly were elected by the people on November 25, 2018. After five years of drafting, the proposal for a new Constitution of the canton of Valais was ready. It contained a variant supporting political rights at the local level for people of foreign nationality.

The new Constitution was presented to the vote on Sunday, March 3. After the approval of March 2018, it seemed like the vote was only a formality. But the refusal was definitive.The proposal which included the right to vote and eligibility of foreigners with C Permit was refused by 68.13% of voters. The one without this option was refused by 57.04% of votes for a participation amounting to 61.49%.

Furthermore, no region accepted the proposal or its variant. In Haut-Valais, where the German-speaking right--the majority in the region--had called for the rejection of the text, the proportion of "no" votes came close to 85% against the proposal, and 74.8% against its variant. On the French-speaking side, central Valais refused the proposal by 62.9% and 51.2% for the variant, Bas-Valais by 60.9% and 49.9%.

Catholics were relieved by this refusal. Many points could indeed seem concerning in the proposal. Notably in what concerns schools (art. 137). Or even art. 13 §1, whose vague wording ("The State and communes implement measures to support parenthood") could have opened the path to adoption for same-sex couples.

The refusal had above all been motivated by political reasons and because the draft of the proposal of the Constitution, accused of being a "catch-all," exceeded the proportions of a constitution. The possibility of voting and the eligibility of foreigners equipped with a Permit C (work permit) was undoubtedly unfavorable to the proposal, even if a variant separated this possibility.

Finally, it remains surprising that a renewed constitution, the idea of which had been accepted by more than 70% during a vote in 2018, was severely rejected by close to 70% six years later.