Virus continues to infect citizen initiatives and referendums

While democracy relies on people coming together, measures to contain Covid-19 are keeping them apart. In Switzerland and elsewhere in Europe, citizen campaigners are struggling to adapt. Eight months after the arrival of Covid-19 and a nationwide shutdown, political life in Switzerland seems almost back to business. Plexiglass-protected parliamentarians met for the autumn session, demonstrations are again allowed (under conditions), and most votes and local elections are going ahead as planned. But the reality is different for campaigners behind people’s initiatives and referendums, the two key instruments of the Swiss direct democracy system. While on paper they can go out onto the street and gather support, the pandemic is slowing them down. “It’s definitely more difficult to collect signatures,” said one campaigner from the Communist Swiss Labour Party, canvassing in Bern last weekend for a local initiative demanding free public transport. Not only are there fewer people on...