“A good day for all police officers”: controversial police law passed with 73 percent – Canton (Solothurn) – Solothurn

The responsible government adviser, Susanne Schaffner, also expected a tight result, at least more stringent. You could see the joy and some relief when he appeared in front of the media on Sunday after the final result was known. “It is a good day for the protection of the victims and for all the police officers who work for the safety of the population,” said Schaffner.

The result really leaves nothing to be desired in terms of clarity. 73 percent of the electorate said yes to the review of the police law.

There was not a single no. In Beinwil, in Schwarzbubenland, it was only comparatively narrow, where 53.8 percent of those who voted also voted in favor.

In almost all other municipalities, the approval rate exceeded 60 or 70 percent, in Eppenberg-Wöschnau even 84 percent. In the densely populated municipalities, there were also large majorities of yes, in Solothurn the revision of the police law passed with almost 73 percent of yes, in Grenchen and Olten also with more than 72 percent.

Franziska Roth on Police Law:

The clear result must be accepted

The result was clear and unequivocal, this must be accepted, announced on Sunday the opposition committee, which had led a noisy voting campaign and evoked a sniffing state. At least a debate could be launched on the relationship between freedom and security, but: “We have not managed to bring the important points of criticism of the law closer to women and men.

Solothurn FDP Cantonal Councilor Markus Spielmann comments on the defeat:

In the end, it was just a question of whether or not the public trusted the work of the police. Now the application of the law in individual cases will be awaited and then it will be carefully observed if the guarantees of the government are maintained.

New skills, but also firm barriers

They will, Police Director Schaffner said Sunday. Even with a more than clear decision: take negative votes seriously. They would show that certain sectors of the population are apparently insecure and skeptical of possible invasions of privacy. He stressed once again that the law is endowed with high constitutional barriers that adequately take into account the fundamental rights of citizens.

The law gives the police new powers to apply undercover searches and preliminary investigations. Susanne Schaffner reassured that these are used with a sense of proportion. The limited resources of the cantonal police probably ask for a certain guarantee, the government has already approved proposals for cuts by the advisory commissions of the new global budget, which only allow a more modest increase in the body than expected.

Susanne Schaffner also referred to the obligation to report on the use of the new investigative instruments, with which only the Canton of Solothurn is familiar: “This ensures that the public is informed about the implementation of the new legal provisions and the work from the police”.

Voting complaint still pending

It is important that the new legal provisions can now take effect quickly, Schaffner continued. This is especially true when you consider that they also regulate the retraining of two-year police officers. The reference to speedy entry into force is of particular importance as a claim on the right to vote is still pending in the administrative court.

Apparently, the government does not assume that this complaint will have suspensive effect, because: Even if the administrative court rejects it shortly as expected, it could still be referred to the federal court. The police director did not elaborate on the matter on Sunday. The court will certainly decide within a reasonable period of time, the government will not comment on this.

An appreciation of police work

For the non-partisan advocacy committee, which had campaigned for the revision of the police law under the title “Security with a sense of proportion”, “the clear popular verdict confirms the good image of the police, recognizes their work for the benefit of all, it gives them great confidence and makes it difficult for them to fight. Criminal offenses the modern instruments necessary to do so ».

The passage of the law does not change the fact that the police are obliged every day to carry out their tasks properly and responsibly. “A careful selection of police students, training and higher education of the members of the corps, as well as clear leadership structures in the corps, are important factors for this to be successful,” says Nadine Vögeli, councilor of the canton of SP and president of the police association.

On the part of the parties, the SP and CVP were behind the revision of the law, the SVP rejected it, the FDP and the Greens had decided to allow the votes. “We will be interested in the implementation and we will also look at it critically,” Cantonal Councilor Christof Schauwecker (Greens) said after the clear outcome. Except for the hidden search without a judge’s decision, none of the innovations were met with skepticism. For Karin Kissling, member of the CVP Cantonal Council, it is “gratifying that the electorate has recognized that the police law presented has a moderate design.”