Urban and rural areas still split on political lines

The political divide between cities and their suburbs is narrowing, according to research based on the result of every single popular vote since 1983. The Somoto Research Institute together with the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC, swissinfo.ch's parent company) has used the data to find out whether Swiss communes lean more towards the left or the right; whether they are more conservative or progressive. Whether a commune is left or right largely depends on its attitude towards the police and the army, environmental protection or asylum-related issues. Being on the conservative side usually means being sceptical towards openness and change whereas a progressive commune is generally in favour of social reforms. This tendency is also reflected by the Swiss voting against joining the European Economic Area (EEA) in 1992 and turning down the anti-abortion initiative in 2001. SBC has analysed the data illustrated in this graph. The study further shows how the ...