SWISS DEMOCRACY Well-Paid, Non-Party Cabinet

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 44, 21 January 1949, Page 5

SWISS DEMOCRACY Well-Paid, Non-Party Cabinet

Swiss Cabinet Ministers, or rather the 7 Federal Councillors who approximate most closely to our Cabinet Ministers, are not members of Parliament, but are appointed by the Federal Assembly, and paid £2,000 a year each. In fact, they are employees of the people, not their masters.

TJiat is but one of the many interesting points of difference between Swiss democracy and our own as outlined very briefly by the Swiss Consul in New Zealand, Mr Ernest Theiler, who was here earlier this week. 4

There is no Opposition in the Swiss Parliamentary system, which consists of two Houses, made up of members elected on a proportionate representation system, so that it can be truly said that there are no minorities unrepresented. There are no parties in parliament, though there are representatives of political Parties and other groups.

Two things that make the people absolute masters of their own destiny at all times are the “initiative” gnd referendum.

A new measure becomes law only if, during 90 days from the time it is passed in Parliament, the people do not petition for a referendum on it.

Further, by a similar petition, signed by a proportion of the people, Parliament can be compelled s to consider new measures, even alterations to the constitution, and submit them for public approval. Thus, the people can at any time move to alter what they dislike, or introduce what they feel would be to their advantage. Strange to us, perhaps, is the fact that in this traditionally democratic country, the women have no vote.

Mr Theiler explained that by saying that there was still a law that only those who bore arms in their country’s service had the right to vote. Actually, that covered all male citizens, because those who for any reason could not serve as soldiers paid a military tax which gave them the same civil privileges. Actually, he said with a smile, votes for women would not make very much difference, because he supposed the men did as their womenfolk pleased, anyway.