If the Covid pandemic is now behind us, it once again reminds us of good memories on June 9. Indeed, for the 4th time, we will have to vote on the subject. This time, it is not a referendum against the law that is at stake, but an anti-vaccine initiative. Explanations.
The “For freedom and physical integrity” initiative was launched by the Swiss Freedom Movement in the fall of 2020, at a time when anti-Covid measures severely restricted the population. The text aims to prohibit any compulsory vaccination by including it in the Constitution. The person who refuses to give consent must “neither be punished nor suffer social or professional harm,” it specifies.
The initiative does not cite the word “vaccination” but speaks of “attacks on physical or psychological integrity”. However, it is the vaccination obligation that is targeted. Because we remember, at the time of Covid, those who did not have a vaccination certificate could no longer access restaurants, in particular, unless they presented a negative test. As a result, the initiators not only mention vaccination on their site but they also go further: “Everyone must be able to decide freely and without fear whether they want to be vaccinated or have a chip implanted,” they emphasize, aiming thus the potential constraint, one day, of having subcutaneous chips injected. “Neither politics nor the pharmaceutical industry should be able to decide what goes into our bodies,” they say.
Both sweep away the initiative. Already today, the Constitution specifies that no one can be vaccinated without their consent, they recall. However, the Confederation and the cantons could, in the event of “significant danger”, declare vaccinations compulsory for exposed population groups, such as healthcare workers. But here again, those who refuse to be bitten will have the right to do so, subject to transfer to another department, specifies Berne. In addition, the initiative, by prohibiting any “physical attack” without the person’s consent, would have serious consequences, according to Parliament: the police would no longer be able to arrest a suspect using their DNA or even dismiss an applicant. Even the breathalyzer test by taking blood during a roadside check would no longer be possible.
Among the major parties, only the UDC says yes to the initiative, but it is not campaigning. In Parliament, the party had pleaded in vain for a counter-project explicitly targeted at vaccination. “What is at stake is the freedom of the Swiss,” declared national councilor Jean-Luc Addor (UDC/VS). The Mass-Voll anti-measures movement! also supports the initiative through a campaign on TikTok.
All other parties except the UDC. None wanted to campaign either. Parliamentarians opposed to the text still decided to come together under the leadership of national councilor Beat Flach (Vert’lib/AG), in order to be able to lead a democratic debate.
The text currently only has 29% favorable opinions, while 51% of respondents are opposed to it, according to the first survey carried out by 20 minutes/Tamedia published on April 24. But there are still 20% undecided. The initiative seems to be more suitable in German-speaking Switzerland (32% yes) than in French-speaking Switzerland (25%).
