Ten referendums were held in Switzerland during 1999.[1] The first four were held on 7 February on changes to the eligibility for membership of the Federal Council (approved), constitutional regulations on organ transplantation (approved), a popular initiative "house ownership for everyone" (rejected) and an amendment to the federal law on spatial planning (approved). The fifth was held on 18 April on a new Swiss Federal Constitution, which was approved.[1]
The last five referendums were held on 13 June on the asylum law (approved), on a federal resolution on asylum and foreigners (approved), a federal resolution on the medical prescription of heroin (approved), federal laws on disability and maternity insurance (both rejected).[1]
The proposed new constitution would sever the link between gold and the Swiss franc, which had been required by the old constitution.[2][3][4][5]
The Swiss National Bank was the last central bank to hold substantial gold reserves to back its currency.[6][7][8] The 2590 tonnes of gold provided 40% of the value of the franc.[9][10]
Month | Question | For | Against | Blank/invalid | Total | Registered voters |
Turnout | Cantons for | Cantons against | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Votes | % | Blank | Invalid | Full | Half | Full | Half | |||||
February | Federal Council membership eligibility | 1,287,081 | 74.7 | 436,511 | 25.3 | 34,504 | 5,457 | 1,764,453 | 4,641,615 | 38.0 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
Organ transplantation regulations | 1,501,925 | 87.8 | 209,263 | 12.2 | 46,216 | 5,471 | 1,762,875 | 38.0 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 0 | ||
House ownership for everyone | 721,717 | 41.3 | 1,025,025 | 58.7 | 19,817 | 5,410 | 1,771,969 | 38.2 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 6 | ||
Spatial planning law amendment | 952,482 | 55.9 | 750,130 | 44.1 | 53,715 | 5,699 | 1,762,026 | 38.0 | ||||||
April | New constitution | 969,310 | 59.2 | 669,158 | 40.8 | 23,335 | 5,066 | 1,666,869 | 4,642,854 | 35.9 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 4 |
June | Asylum law | 1,443,137 | 70.6 | 601,389 | 29.4 | 66,156 | 7,282 | 2,117,964 | 4,646,362 | 45.6 | ||||
Federal resolution on foreigners and asylum | 1,447,984 | 70.8 | 595,908 | 29.2 | 68,695 | 7,125 | 2,119,712 | 45.6 | ||||||
Medical prescription of heroin | 1,128,393 | 54.4 | 944,919 | 45.6 | 45,297 | 6,760 | 2,125,369 | 45.7 | ||||||
Federal law on disability insurance | 620,797 | 30.3 | 1,428,986 | 69.7 | 63,774 | 7,102 | 2,120,659 | 45.6 | ||||||
Federal law on maternity insurance | 822,458 | 39.0 | 1,286,824 | 61.0 | 19,146 | 6,456 | 2,134,884 | 45.9 | ||||||
Source: Nohlen |
The new constitution approved in April made the franc fully fiat, and the Swiss National Bank began selling its gold reserves.[11][12] Some of the proceeds were used to set up a "solidarity fund" with developing nations. By November, the gold stockpile was reduced to 25%.[13][14][15]