People's rights 1600 signatures on Bern city initiative disappear without a trace

A postal item containing signatures to be certified for the city's minimum wage initiative has gone missing from the Bern City Chancellery. This was announced by the city on Monday. According to the initiative committee, around 1600 signatures are involved.

A registered letter with signed signature sheets was delivered to the city chancellery on July 16, the city announced. However, the mailing was never received by the internal office responsible for checking the signatures.

The loss became known internally last week after the initiative committee enquired about the status of signature control. Investigations have so far been unsuccessful.

Criminal behavior cannot be ruled out, the city announced. For this reason, charges against persons unknown are also being considered.

What happens next is unclear. "The City Chancellery is currently examining the legal options for resolving the situation", the communiqué states. Everything will be done "to limit the damage".

In Bern, 5,000 valid signatures are required for a municipal initiative to come into being. The initiative from the red-green camp was launched on May 1; the regular deadline for collecting signatures ends on November 1.

SDA