Voting wraps up on ecological overhaul of Swiss economy

Barring a big upset, Swiss voters look set to reject an initiative to revamp the country’s economy and bring it into line with “planetary boundaries”. Polling ended at midday; final results are expected by early evening. It’s not so often that the result of a national vote in Switzerland is called so confidently in advance. In the case of the “environmental responsibility initiative”, however, the writing was on the wall. In the lead-up to ballot day, surveys never suggested that the Young Greens’ proposal stood much of a chance. First indications after voting ended on Sunday don’t suggest any major surprises. At midday, a clear rejection was predicted by the gfs.bern research institute, though the extent is still not clear. Final results will trickle in from the country’s 26 cantons throughout the afternoon. In harmony with nature The initiative, brought by the youth section of the left-wing Green Party, called for a constitutional amendment requiring the Swiss economy to respect ...