Votes Roundtable discussions on signature collections begin

SDA

30.10.2024 - 12:05

This process should be better protected: A citizen writes his personal details on a signature sheet. (archive picture)
This process should be better protected: A citizen writes his personal details on a signature sheet. (archive picture)
Keystone

Round table discussions began in Bern on Wednesday with the aim of increasing transparency in signature collections. This is one of the measures taken by the Federal Chancellery following the discovery of suspected forgeries.

Keystone-SDA

The aim of the roundtable discussions is to draw up a code of conduct for initiative committees and professional signature collection organizations. The code is based on a form of self-regulation by the players involved. It is also aimed at political parties and interest groups that regularly collect signatures.

At the beginning of September, the Tamedia newspapers reported that thousands of signature data for popular initiatives were allegedly falsified in Switzerland. The Federal Chancellery filed criminal charges against persons unknown back in 2022 and has since added new suspected cases to these charges several times, according to its own statements.

In order to protect the integrity of the collection process, the Federal Chancellery is focusing not only on criminal prosecution but also on prevention and improving processes.