- The canton of Geneva enshrines the right to digital integrity in its constitution – a first in Switzerland.
- The people of Geneva are voting today on six cantonal proposals.
- Two transactions relate to taxation. It is about a solidarity contribution from the richest and a revision of the tax assessment of real estate.
- In total, there are three cantonal initiatives and three legislative revisions.
According to results based on 95% of the ballots received, the people on Sunday passed a law by 94.15% that would allow the right to digital integrity to be enshrined in the constitution.
The new provision guarantees every person the right to have their digital integrity preserved, mainly when dealing with public administrations. The FDP initiated this step, which was unanimously decided by the Grand Council and supported by the State Council.
Every citizen therefore has the right to be protected against abusive processing of data related to their digital life. The right to security in the digital space, the right to an offline life and the right to be forgotten are also guaranteed.
The state must ensure that the processing of citizens’ personal data only takes place in countries where adequate protection exists.
People with large assets are not obliged to make a solidarity contribution
In Geneva, people with assets of more than 3 million francs should not be obliged to make a solidarity contribution. After 95% of the ballots were counted, the left-union initiative was defeated by 55.67% on Sunday.
The initiative “For a limited solidarity contribution to large assets” would have provided for a tax increase of 0.25 percent on taxable assets of more than 3 million francs over ten years. In addition, there would have been two permanent measures: a tripling of the social security deductions on assets and an increase in the maximum tax rate by 1 percent.
For the unions and the left, this “small effort” demanded of the multi-millionaires was aimed at raising government revenue to fund social services and the green transition. The right was very angry about this “tax hammer” and fears that wealthy taxpayers will leave the canton.
Homeownership appraisals only benefit the wealthy
The other tax issue concerns a change in the law against which the left and the unions have called the referendum. The revision affects the valuations of residential property that is not rented out, particularly villas and condominiums. Because some properties were last appraised in 1964, their taxable value is currently less than their market value, which is inconsistent with federal law.
The left criticizes a reform that only benefits the richest and an “unacceptable” drop in revenue – 86.4 million for the canton and 15.4 million for the municipalities. The rights, on the other hand, defended the “pragmatic system that is predictable for all owners”.
24 weeks parental leave?
The Genevans will also vote on an initiative by the Green Liberals to introduce funding for 24 weeks of parental leave. The aim is to supplement the 16-week cantonal maternity leave with eight weeks in favor of the other parent, including the two weeks of federal paternity leave that will apply from 2021.
The right, with the exception of the SVP, is happy about progress in family policy. Die Linke rejects the initiative because it has the “perverse effect” of jeopardizing the current cantonal system of maternity insurance.
right to food
In addition to the right to digital integrity, a second new fundamental right that is to be enshrined in the constitution will be voted on: the right to food. The right to food is controversial. The right-wing parties do not want this declarative article as it would not change anything in practice.
32 hour week?
The population will also vote on the union initiative “1000 jobs: For the creation of social and ecological jobs and shorter working hours”. This calls on the public sector to create 1000 jobs in the social, health and environmental sectors every year as soon as unemployment exceeds 5 percent. The initiators are also calling for a 32-hour workweek by 2030.