event
Panel Discussion
Wednesday
03
June

Exploring Swiss Democracy: The 'No to Ten Million Switzerland' Initiative and Beyond

Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy
, -

Maison de la paix, S4

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Swiss democracy is a unique, semi-direct democratic system based on active citizen participation through regular referenda and initiatives. On 14 June 2026, Swiss voters will decide on an issue which may have major implications for Switzerland’s immigration policy. Titled "No to ten million Switzerland", this population cap initiative led by the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) is particularly contentious.

If the initiative is approved, it will have far-ranging consequences for Switzerland’s relationship with the European Union and the rest of the world.

This raises several critical questions and concerns, not just among Swiss residents but also within International Geneva and the broader international community. 

Panelists will explore key questions including:

  • How did this initiative come about and how does Swiss democracy work?

  • What could be the implications of the vote for academic institutions and International Geneva?

  • How to situate current transformations of democratic debates and practices in the broader international context? 

  • How do populist narratives and emotions affect democratic deliberations in Switzerland and beyond?

Speaker:

Moderator:

  • Christine Lutringer, Senior Lecturer and Executive Director, Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy

 

Bios: 

Marceau Schroeter is the Founder of the Pop Démocratie association, which aims to explain Swiss democracy to the general public. He has spent years studying and engaging with Swiss democratic processes from the inside. His perspective bridges the technical mechanics of direct democracy and its lived political consequences. He is the author of the book "Au cœur de la démocratie suisse" (“At the Heart of Swiss Democracy”) published by Slatkine Press in 2022. The English version of the book “A Journey Inside Swiss Democracy” has just been published by Democratiq (2026).

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