Swiss voters decided on Sunday that they have enough democracy already, overwhelmingly rejecting a proposal to hold more referendums on international treaties. A nationalist group in the already referendum-happy Alpine republic wanted voters to have an automatic say every time their government signs an important international agreement.
However, not one of the country's 26 cantons, or states, voted in favour of more referendums in Sunday's referendum, and 75.2 percent of voters rejected the plan. Such proposals need a majority of both voters and cantons to pass.
Most major parties opposed the measure, saying it could gridlock Swiss democracy with constant ballot calls as one pre-vote poster put it, "too much democracy kills democracy." Switzerland already holds about half a dozen national referendums each year as well as local ones.
The Action for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland group, which made the proposal, said it wanted referendums whenever Switzerland submits to a foreign law or court particularly if it involves the European Union. Switzerland does not belong to the 27-nation bloc but is surrounded by it.