Resistance against the dismantling of direct democracy is announced

To the National Council’s decision dated 21 September 2016

by Dr iur Marianne Wüthrich

On 21 September the National Council as first council began with the debate on the amendment of the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals FNA including the order to implement the by people and cantons adopted constitutional provision concerning the management of  immigration. That, what was presented to the Swiss people was a cleverly needled tragedy.  That had nothing to do with democracy, in any case.
The Swiss people certainly doesn’t want to join  the EU, especially not the NATO. Since the memorable No to the EWR- membership on 6 December 1992 everyone clearly knows that, and that hasn’t  changed since then. Every Swiss person knows that joining the EU means an Off of the Swiss modell model. Because of this unique model – direct democracy, federalism, communal autonomy, neutrality – Switzerland is stable and sustainable in any case. The strong position of the SME (small and medium-sized enterprises) in the economic region, the deep national debt, the strong franc are the impact of the Swiss model. Behind that you can find the deep-rooted public safety: We are the decisionmakers in this country, we ensure healthy communities, we maintain and strengthen the economic position of the dual vocational training and the identification of workers with their SME operations, by the debt brake imported through people we ensure that our expanding cantonal and federal authorities still have at least one barrier. In every opinion survey we maintain with over 90 per cent the everlasting armed neutrality.
The opponents are not resting. Politicians and all administrative departments in the Confederation and cantons have taken up the fight against the Swiss model and set the course: The small state Switzerland is to be integrated into the EU and NATO and thereby dissolved. Even before 1992, but especially since, they have begun to saw to the pillars: drug policy, education reforms, Bergier report – pure poison arrows from outside, but without a strong 5th column inside they would have had little effect. Decomposition of the communal autonomy by the steady weakening of the communes and the strengthening and centralizing of administrations (EU regional policy, mergers, nature parks, metropolitan areas), penetration of the EU-aligned federal administration in every corner of the sovereign cantons (health, primary school, education generally), replacement of the people’s militia army by so-called “Durchdiener” (towards professional army) and undermining of neutrality by an always closer “cooperation” with NATO. Everything passing the people, a steady coup from above against the people.
Direct democracy is the crux for strategists who let themselves integrate from outside in an ever closer network – because of fame addiction? Because they are blackmailed? Because they hope to control the global economy in the “global village” in a better way? But: Up to now nobody can pass the referenda in Switzerland. So you have to attack democracy from above and dismantle it gradually. By the Curriculum 21 one can accelerate the planned strategy: persons who cannot read and write, are lost for direct democracy: The whole growing generations shall no longer be able to carry the state as  mature citizens – an inhuman nastiness without equal.
In order to make it a bit faster, more and more referenda simply don’t get implemented. The more than seven-hour lasting National Council debate on 21 September to the implementation of Article 121a of the Federal Constitution (immigration control) is a demonstration of the subversive forces against whom a strong response will be necessary.    

“Why crumbled the bourgeois consensus?” “It dissolved.”

The bill 16.027 is to be rejected to the Political Institutions Commitee (PIC-N) connected with the mandate to constitutionally embellish it according to the decree of people and cantons from 9 Februar 2014. The elaborated proposal by PIC-N for the implementation of Art. 121a of the Federal Constitution as well as the appropriate interim regulations is clearly unconstitutional. The constitutional obligation by people and cantons reads:

Art. 121a FC

1    Switzerland shall control the immigration of foreign nationals autonomously.
    – unfulfilled!
2    The number of residence permits for foreign nationals in Switzerland shall be restricted by annual quantitative limits
    – unfulfilled!
    and quotas.
    – unfulfilled!
    The quantitative limits apply to all permits issued under legislation on foreign nationals, including those related to asylum matters.
    – unfulfilled!
    The right to permanent residence, family reunification and social benefits may be restricted.
    – unfulfilled!
3    The annual quantitative limits and quotas for foreign nationals in gainful employment must be determined according to Switzerland’s general economic interests, while giving priority to Swiss citizens;
    – unfulfilled!
    the limits and quotas must include cross-border commuters.
    – unfulfilled!
    The decisive criteria for granting residence permits are primarily a application from an employer,
    – unfulfilled!
    ability to integrate, and adequate, independent means of subsistence.
    – unfulfilled!
4    No international agreements may be concluded that breach this Article.
    – unfulfilled (Croatia-minute)!

Art. 197 FC

11    Transitional provision to Art. 121a (Control of immigration)
1    International agreements that contradict Article 121a must be renegotiated and amended within three years of its adoption by the people and the cantons.
    – unfulfilled!
(Translation Current Concerns)

Elementary school once again has to be people’s concern

 The initiative committee “Yes to HarmoS exit” along with a sizeable portion of voters requested the government and the cantonal board of education to put children’s interests at the heart of school policy. The “Yes” vote cast by St. Gallen voters for a HarmoS remain is not a free pass to promote more damaging school reforms.
The government as well as the media have put a lot of effort into discrediting the initiative for the HarmoS exit so far. Surely, the massive media (almost) monopoly of HarmoS supporters has contributed significantly to the remain within a HarmoS concordat. We would like to thank all citizens that supported our initiative, and who, despite a massive media campaign voted “Yes” to a HarmoS exit.
The government now will be judged on whether it keeps its promise and is prepared to put the child’s interest at the heart of its policy even with a HarmoS concordat, whether it is prepared to strengthen the teacher-child relationship and to give teachers the freedom to choose their own teaching methods. Also, after a lot of unrest, the repeatedly given promises to have the flurry of reforms subside and calm restored within school politics, now have to be put in effect.
Moreover, HarmoS must no longer be used as a lever for ideological restructuring of the schools. The voters said “Yes” to a sensible coordination of the cantonal schools, but not to a radical change of elementary school. Steps taken towards self-organised learning are to be stopped.
Maths, reading and writing in German are to receive proper emphasis as a foundation once more. The most valuable aspect of elementary school, the student body that is being led and shaped by a responsible teacher, has to be preserved.
We will keep going, we will continue to oppose non-sensical reforms and take action for a strong elementary school St. Gallen.

Heinz Herzog, spokesman for the voting committee “Yes to HarmoS exit“