Grand Council TI Opposition to possible percentage hurdle for parliament in Ticino

Resistance is mounting in Ticino against the possible introduction of a percentage hurdle for the cantonal parliament. An appeal against the proposal posted on the Internet was signed by almost 1,000 people within a few days.

Keystone-SDA

04.03.2025, 10:51

SDA

The introduction of a four percent threshold for elections to the cantonal parliament poses a "serious threat to democratic representation and political pluralism", according to the appeal on the Campax campaign organization's website.

The small parties and list combinations that are to be "eliminated" by the proposed reform represent around 13 percent of voters. They would enrich the discussion and perspectives, the initiators of the appeal continue.

Since the last elections in April 2023, the Ticino Grand Council has been more fragmented than ever before. Twelve parties currently share the 90 council seats. The proposal for the introduction of a percentage hurdle comes from FDP councillor Paolo Ortelli and is currently before the Ticino government. Specifically, all parties that receive less than four percent of the valid votes cast should no longer be entitled to seats in parliament.

Numerous small parties would be "out"

If the proposal were implemented, half of the parties currently represented would no longer sit on the Grand Council, including the Green Liberals, "Più Donne", "Avanti con Ticino & Lavoro", "Movimento per il Socialismo" (MPS), the Communist Party and "HelvEthica Ticino", which emerged from the coronavirus pandemic.

Originally, the government was supposed to comment by mid-February, as the President of the Commission for the Constitution and Laws, Alessandro Corti (center), told the Keystone-SDA news agency when asked. However, there is now a delay: the government is not yet ready to take an official position on the matter.

The canton of Ticino would not be the first to introduce a quorum for entry into parliament. The canton of Geneva currently has the highest percentage hurdle at seven percent.