Election manifesto for the “Fifth Switzerland”

Promoting international mobility

In its election manifesto, the CSA calls for a concerted effort to remove unnecessary obstacles to international mobility for Swiss nationals. It wants a clear commitment to developing and driving e-government, which will provide the Swiss Abroad with easy access to government services – regardless of time zone or the geographical distance from Switzerland. Quick and easy access to consular services must also continue for Swiss Abroad in their country of domicile.

To prevent new restrictions on international mobility, the CSA is a strong supporter of continued freedom of movement that allows Swiss citizens to live and work in EU/EFTA countries.

The CSA also advocates removing barriers for Swiss Abroad in relation to social security.

The ongoing issue of e-voting

Voter turnout among the Swiss Abroad plummeted at the last federal elections in 2019, because e-voting was not available. The CSA – as it did before the last legislative period – therefore calls on politicians to introduce e-voting quickly and across the board. When voting papers fail to arrive in time by post, e-voting is the only way for the Swiss Abroad to exercise their right to vote as enshrined in the constitution. An election manifesto on its own is not enough to ensure that Swiss politicians take the concerns of the “Fifth Switzerland” into account. The Swiss Abroad should actually be able to have a say on the future composition of parliament itself and deserve to be adequately represented.

The OSA 2023 election manifesto in full (in German and French): revue.link/manifest