Harmful expansion or efficient highways? Switzerland’s motorway debate

The core message of the No campaign is that more and wider roads can only bring brief respite. By expanding motorway capacity, you are creating the wrong incentives and, therefore, causing more congestion in the long term. The question of whether more roads actually lead to more traffic is difficult to answer, say experts. For Carsten Hagedorn, who is a professor in traffic planning at the Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences, it is a classic case of the chicken or the egg. “What came first, the traffic or the roads?” Ultimately, we build roads where there is a demand for these roads, Hagedorn told Radio SRF. And new roads shorten the time we spend travelling. “Travel times are an important factor in deciding whether to take the car or a different mode of transport. Road expansion can therefore make the car option much more attractive.”

Three other proposals will be put to the electorate in November (see box). For Swiss Abroad who own and let property in Switzerland, votes on two bills affecting landlord/tenant rights are of particular significance.

Yes campaign: 
www.zusammen-vorwaertskommen.ch

No campaign: 
www.autobahnwahn.ch

Overview of all the votes on 24 November 2024

Loan to increase motorway capacity

In 2023, parliament endorsed a formal step to increase national motorway capacity: a loan of 5.3 billion francs to fund six different projects that will see the construction of additional lanes as well as new tunnels on heavily frequented sections of motorway. A 40-strong alliance of organisations and parties opposes the projects, calling them harmful, expensive and pointless. Centre-right and right-wing politicians who support the bill say that the projects are solely about relieving congestion (see main article).

Landlord/tenant rights I: Stricter rules on subletting

Tenants who wish to sublet an apartment or room will in future require written consent from the owner – and will also have to provide more information on the intended subletting. Verbal consent has been sufficient until now. Tenants who break the rules could have their rental agreements terminated. The Swiss Tenants’ Association and the left-green parties oppose the changes.

Landlord/tenant rights II: Termination for personal use made easier

Parliament has approved a bill that would make it easier for landlords to terminate tenancies if they want to set aside their property for personal use. Until now, landlords have had to prove that they need their property “urgently” for personal use or for use by close relatives in order to terminate an existing rental agreement. The left-wing parties call the bill a “brazen attack by the landlord lobby” on tenants’ rights, while centre-right and right-wing politicians think the changes are fair.

Standardised health insurance funding model

Every area of the healthcare sector – outpatients, inpatients, and care – is currently subject to different funding regimes. By introducing a standardised funding model, parliament wants to incentivise cost savings, e.g. more outpatient treatment instead of expensive hospital stays. Potential annual savings would total 440 million francs per annum. Switzerland’s public services union (VPOD/ SSP) opposes the reform, saying it will lead to a decline in healthcare working conditions and in the quality of care provided.