Votes Civic activists criticize Federal Chancellery after Tamedia investigation

After investigations into possible fraud in the collection of signatures for popular initiatives came to light, members of parliament are calling first and foremost for transparency regarding the facts. A ban on commercial collection campaigns is also once again on the agenda.

The Tamedia investigation published on Monday evening is making waves in the federal parliament. The fact that commercial companies are alleged to have cheated when collecting signatures for popular initiatives irritates several members of parliament.

"I am dismayed and outraged - even if I do not know the actual extent of the incidents and currently have to rely on the Tamedia research," said Daniel Fässler, member of the Innerrhoden Council of States, on Tuesday at the request of the Keystone-SDA news agency.

The President of the Council of States' Political Affairs Committee (SPK-S) is now demanding transparency from those responsible: "I want to know from the Federal Chancellery when it knew what and whether it received transparent information from the cantons and municipalities."

"Gross misconduct"

Like other members of parliament who were contacted, Fässler only found out about the possible signature fraud via the media on Monday. He expressed his surprise that he had no evidence of this beforehand - even though he was responsible for the Federal Chancellery and the Department of Justice as a member of the Control Committee of the Council of States (CPC-S) until the end of 2023.

Bernese FDP National Councillor Christian Wasserfallen, a member of the National Council's Political Affairs Committee (SPK-N), is also annoyed because the Federal Chancellery was aware of irregularities, but neither it nor the Federal Council actively communicated about them. "This behavior does not strengthen trust in the institutions."

The authorities are obliged to take action under the Publicity Act. "This is a case of gross misconduct," said Wasserfallen.

Old proposal relaunched

The fact that irregularities occur when collecting signatures should come as no surprise, said Fässler. "There is great potential for abuse in the system because it is difficult to check each signature individually." As soon as money is involved, the risk increases. "You create incentives for fraud."

Fässler sees a need for action - if the facts are confirmed. "One possibility would be a ban on commercial collection campaigns," he said. However, there are various questions of demarcation.

The proposal failed in parliament three years ago, but has gained new momentum since the possible fraud case became public. According to a statement from her party on Monday, Ticino National Councillor Greta Gysin (Greens) intends to submit a proposal to the SPK-N this week to ban paid signature collecting. Gysin chairs the commission.

"No problem as long as it runs smoothly"

It is unclear whether Gysin will find a majority with the newly launched proposal. The support of the left-green parties seems to be a formality. The conservatives are more skeptical. "I still don't believe in a ban on paid signature collections," said FDP representative Wasserfallen. Small groups would be disadvantaged and the people's rights would be restricted. "Paid signature collection is not a problem as long as it runs smoothly."

Wasserfallen primarily sees a need for legal action. "These forgeries should be prosecuted and the perpetrators punished; it's less of a political problem." As soon as the e-ID is finally a reality, there will be more opportunities to prevent misuse, said Wasserfallen.

SVP parliamentary group leader Thomas Aeschi is also against a ban on paid signature collections. "We have the right to collect signatures ourselves." However, in contrast to popular initiatives, referendums always have a very short time frame of one hundred days, which is why paid help from referendum organizations is more likely to be used. However, if companies were hired, they would have to work seriously.