Swiss voters strongly supported the law behind the COVID-19 pass in the country in a referendum today, after a tense campaign that demonstrates unprecedented levels of hostility, informs “AFP”.
The first results of the survey showed that about two-thirds of voters supported the law, as GFS Bern market researchers predict 63% support in the rich Alpine Republic.
Полицията отцепи седалището на правителството и парламента в Берн в очакване на протести.
COVID certificates in a referendum in Switzerland
Consultation on pandemic measures
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The results of 16 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons show that 61.9 percent voted in favor of the law in 64 percent turnout.
The referendum took place as the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, classified as a “concern of concern” by the World Health Organization (WHO), shook countries and markets around the world.
The poll was also held at a time when the number of newly infected with COVID-19 in Switzerland is more than seven times higher than in mid-October.
The law provides the legal basis for the so-called COVID-19 certificate, which shows that a person has been vaccinated or has recovered from the disease.
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Warning to the authorities
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Opponents argue that the certificate required from September for access to restaurants and other indoor spaces and activities created system on “apartade”“.
As in much of Europe, there is growing anger in Switzerland over pandemic control restrictions and pressure to vaccinate people.
But in a country where referendums are held every few months in an atmosphere of politeness and measured debate, the growing tension around the vote came as a shock.
Police have stepped up security around several politicianswho collided in front of a stream of insults and even death threats.
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This is how Switzerland stimulates vaccination
Pandemic measures
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Protests took place during the campaign, often led by the so-called “Freiheitstrychler” or “Freedom bells“- men dressed in white shirts, embroidered with edelweiss and two large cowbells, hung on a yoke resting on their shoulders.
Some of the demonstrations led to violent clashes with police, who used rubber bullets and tear gas to control the crowds.
Michelle Kayler, a spokeswoman for the Friends of the Constitution group, which opposed the law, insisted that granting such powers to the government was “extremely dangerous for democracy“.
“What’s very embarrassing is that this law violates a number of constitutional rights, in particular Art. 10 for personal freedom with this Covid certificate, which establishes covert mandatory vaccination“she told AFP after the vote.
“So that’s it extremely shocking for a country like Switzerland“, added Keiler.
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Mandatory tests for unvaccinated and untreated COVID-19 in Switzerland
People will be tested again
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Regarding the violence around the vote, which her group disapproved of, she said: “The government must ask itself whether it is not responsible for possible excesses by pushing people to the limit with coercive measures that have extremely serious side effects – much worse than this epidemic – and perhaps this is encouraging people to overreact.”
In Sunday newspapers, Swiss President Guy Parmelen called on more people to come out to get vaccinated.
About 67 percent of the Swiss population is fully immunized, with another two percent receiving the first of the two doses.
A survey by the Link Institute among 1,300 people for the SonntagsBlick newspaper found that 53 percent support compulsory vaccination.
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