Grand Council BS Basel Grand Council in favor of voting rights for foreigners
Foreign nationals with a permanent residence permit should be able to vote and stand for election in Basel-Stadt. On Thursday, after a long and emotional debate, the Basel Grand Council approved a corresponding amendment to the constitution by 53 votes to 41.
27.06.2024, 16:11
SDA
Specifically, foreign nationals are to be given the opportunity to take part in cantonal votes and elections in future. The condition for this is that they must have lived in Basel-Stadt for at least five years and have a permanent residence permit. However, the right to stand for election, i.e. the opportunity to be elected, is excluded.
Riehen and Bettingen can decide for themselves whether they want to introduce adequate voting and electoral rights. However, the two municipalities want nothing to do with this.
The bill is a compromise of the Justice and Sports Commission (JSK), which was consulted in advance, on the basis of an SP motion. A minority of the committee, like the spokespersons of the conservative parliamentary groups, took the view that there could be no compromises on this issue. Those who wish to vote should be naturalized, was also the tenor of the conservative minority.
The electorate will have the final say, as the constitutional amendment is subject to a mandatory referendum.
