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WALTER BIERI
With 98 votes to 85 and two abstentions, the National Council on Thursday supported a parliamentary initiative by Sibel Arslan (Greens / BS). Arslan had asked the council to seize the opportunity to “write the history of Switzerland.” The result of the vote was recognized with applause in the room.
The 16- and 17-year-olds are very interested in politics and have the political education necessary to vote and vote, Arslan said. He warned that the number of voters over 50 was growing.
He received the support of Tamara Funiciello (SP / BE): “Young people are ready to participate.” The initiative was supported by a large minority of the State Political Commission (SPK).
The SPK voted against the initiative with the casting vote of President Andreas Glarner (SVP / AG). I wanted to wait for the events in the cantons. Today, only young people aged 16 and over can vote in the canton of Glarus. However, they can only be chosen by themselves at the age of 18.
In Neuchâtel, however, the voting age of 16 was clearly rejected last February. Discussions on the issue are also taking place in other cantons, such as Bern, Lucerne, Zurich and Zug.
Furthermore, the majority of the SPK did not consider it sensible to grant only some of the voters the right to vote. At the age of 16, initiatives and referendums can be voted on, but not signed, said Andri Silberschmidt (FDP / ZH), the youngest member of the National Council.
According to the majority of the SPK, the votes must be given to those who are of legal age and who can also be elected. Most also thought that young people had other opportunities for political involvement. This was not the least demonstrated by the climatic manifestations.
The SPK of the Council of States will then decide on the initiative. If you say no, the Council of States must make a decision before it can draft a bill.
