Votes in Geneva: Lancy bans advertising from its streets

This is a Swiss first and, probably, a world first. On Sunday, Lancy became the only city to ban commercial advertising in its public space by popular vote. Enough to make the yes camp for “Zéro pubs” proud, meeting at City Hall. “We won!” exclaim socialists and Greens. Among them, some seem surprised to win with 51.31% of the votes.

“I really didn’t expect it,” smiles Emilie Fernandez, president of the Lancy Greens. This vote was David against Goliath. The referendum campaigners had enormous resources and the posters with them. But we led a field campaign, we went to explain the issues of this vote to the population, and it paid off.”

Spared windows

The streets of Lancy, and their 170 advertising media, will therefore separate themselves from commercial advertising. Only cultural, associative, educational or sporting displays will remain authorized. “And contrary to what was said during the campaign, this decision will help strengthen local traders who will not be impacted in any way,” assures Salima Moyard, mayor of Lancy.

According to the socialist, both advertising in windows and sponsorship of sports clubs will remain legal. Two points which, during the campaignhad torn apart the referendum committee, made up of the Centre-Vert’liberal group, and the left. “The population did not let themselves be fooled by fallacious arguments,” rejoices the president of the PS de Lancy, Matthieu Jotterand. Today, it is the values ​​that have won, as well as the desire to rethink public space.”

Close result

For Jean-Adrien Lorenzini, it’s obviously a disappointment. But the president of the Lancy Center wishes to underline the close result (51.31% yes, 48.69% no): “The population was sensitive to our arguments and these figures reassure me in the idea that we should launch this referendum against “Zero advertising” in order to allow citizens to vote on this subject. We will now be attentive to the application of the Administrative Council so that this decision does not impact local traders.”

Lancy therefore follows suit Vernierwhich has already banned advertising from its streets. But, as a reminder, the Verniolan population did not have the opportunity to vote on “Zero advertising”, the referendum launched by the right having not been successful. In May 2023, the City of Geneva had, for its part, refused the initiative at the ballot box. A historic result, therefore, for the town of Lancy, which voted at municipal level for the first time since 2009.

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Léa Frischknecht is a PR journalist in the Geneva section. After a bachelor’s degree in Political Science at the University of Geneva, she obtained her master’s degree at the Academy of Media and Journalism at the University of Neuchâtel.More info

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