Swiss Council of States Delays Vote on EU Accord Voting Rules

Switzerland's Council of States has unexpectedly delayed a crucial vote on the voting mechanism for future European Union agreements, a decision that could significantly impact the nation's relationship with the bloc. The chamber voted to postpone the fundamental debate on requiring a "double majority", both a popular vote and a majority of cantons, for bilateral accords with the EU. This move means a parliamentary commission must now draft a concrete proposal by September, linking new EU treaties to a constitutional amendment. Such an amendment would automatically necessitate the double majority, as constitutional changes require approval from both the people and the cantons.

The postponement came as a surprise, with many expecting a principal decision that would then move to the National Council. This delay, however, benefits proponents of the double majority. They had feared that the National Council, where conservative forces are less dominant than in the upper house, might reject the proposal outright, effectively killing the idea before it could be properly debated in conjunction with the treaties themselves.

The debate over the double majority is contentious. Supporters argue it ensures that agreements have broad support across the country, preventing a simple majority from imposing decisions on a reluctant minority of cantons. Conversely, opponents contend that the requirement, particularly the cantonal majority, creates an excessively high hurdle. They point to past referendums where a popular vote of around 55 percent was needed to also secure the cantonal majority, suggesting that the focus would shift to a few swing cantons, making the approval process far more difficult and potentially jeopardizing the entire EU package.