Swiss voters massively reject inheritance tax, civic duty proposals

Swiss citizens have overwhelmingly voted against both a proposal for a new tax on big inheritances and a call for all citizens to perform civic duty, Swissinfo reported citing final results. 

Some 84.1% of voters said no to the civic duty proposal, while 78.3% rejected the inheritance tax initiative. Voter turnout on Sunday was 43%. All cantons voted firmly against the two initiatives, according to Swissinfo. 

The proposal for a system of mandatory civic duty to be performed by all citizens suffered the defeat just six weeks after some 48% of those polled by research institute gfs.bern said they would support the proposal. This figure then dipped to 32% ten days before Sunday’s vote.

According to Swissinfo, for the backers of a proposed national tax on large inheritances, the defeat was also heftier than expected: the rejection by 78.3% of voters is steeper than opinion polls predicted, and also higher than the 71% who said no to a similar initiative ten years ago. As was the case a decade ago, not a single canton accepted the proposal on Sunday.

The idea, for a 50% levy on bequests above a tax-free CHF50 million ($61.8 million), was brought by the Young Socialists (JUSO) party, who took aim both at rising wealth inequality and the role of the super-rich in contributing to climate change. Had the initiative passed, the proceeds from the levy would have gone towards climate projects.

However, the left-wing plan was strongly opposed by the government, most political parties, and a well-funded campaign which warned of an exodus of rich taxpayers and problems for family businesses in coming up with the capital to pay the levy. Switzerland holds national referendums four times a year, giving citizens a direct say in policymaking.