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Switzerland's Future in Europe: Isolation or Constitutional Change
Author(s) -
GERMANN RAIMUND E.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
governance
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.46
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1468-0491
pISSN - 0952-1895
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-0491.1992.tb00037.x
Subject(s) - referendum , ratification , political science , legislature , negotiation , nationality , democracy , politics , order (exchange) , constitution , law and economics , law , government (linguistics) , doctrine , political economy , sociology , economics , immigration , linguistics , philosophy , finance
In order to move closer to the European Community and eventually to join it, Switzerland must reshape its political institutions. A major constitutional reform should provide for a real head of government, adapt direct democracy to the constraints of supra‐nationality, and simplify the legislative process. In the ongoing debate in Switzerland, the question is not so much whether such reforms are necessary, but when they should occur. The author argues that the dominant doctrine of negotiating first with the EC and reforming later is not realistic. The so‐called “double majority referendum,” which is necessary for ratifying membership either in the European Economic Space or in the EC itself, is given as an illustration. This ratification procedure is not in accordance with the principle of “one man, one vote,” and is clearly biased against Europe.