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April 29, 2021
The Federal Parliament Building in Bern, Switzerland
The law recognizing civil unions between people of the same sex, adopted by the Swiss Parliament at the end of 2020, will ultimately have to go through a referendum: a petition exceeding the 50,000 signatures required has in fact been submitted to the authorities to this effect.
On April 12, 2021, 59,176 certified signatures were deposited at the headquarters of the Federal Chancellery, calling for the organization of a referendum on civil union between persons of the same sex.
According to Swiss law, a law passed by parliament can be contested by the people. This requires at least 50,000 signatures within 100 days of publication of the law. If successful, the law is put to the vote of the citizens of the Confederation.
CNA Staff, Apr 29, 2021 / 17:00 pm (CNA).
Campaigners in Switzerland have gathered enough signatures to secure a referendum on same-sex marriage, after the country’s parliament passed a bill last December called “Marriage for All.”
More than 61,000 valid signatures were submitted in favor of giving the country’s 8.5 million population a final say on the law.
The country, officially known as the Swiss Confederation, is a federal republic with a tradition of direct democracy. Members of the public can force a referendum on new laws if they collect 50,000 signatures within 100 days of the official publication of the act of parliament.
Switzerland has recognized civil unions for same-sex couples since 2007, following a 2005 referendum. In December 2020, parliament approved the legalization of same-sex marriage and introduced it into the Swiss Civil Code.
Switzerland to hold same-sex marriage referendum
Today, 07:05
Switzerland will hold a referendum on same-sex marriage, after opponents gathered some 61,000 signatures calling to put the matter to a national vote, The Guardian reported on Wednesday. Meanwhile, a petition of the political movement Operation Libero gathered 100,000 signatures in favour of gay marriage this month. The Swiss parliament passed a law recognizing same-sex marriage last December. The Netherlands did so in 2001, leading the way in Europe.
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