In a separate vote on 1 October, the Council of States decided that the entire Bilaterals III treaty package—including an updated Free Movement of Persons protocol—must be put to a mandatory ‘sui generis’ referendum requiring a majority of both Swiss voters and cantons. The decision (23–17) rebuffs the Federal Council’s proposal for a simpler optional referendum that would have required only a popular majority. The move reflects political sensitivity around sovereignty and immigration. By insisting on a double majority, senators aim to secure stronger democratic legitimacy for a deal that will deepen Switzerland’s alignment with EU rules on labour mobility, food safety, health security and electricity. Critics fear the higher hurdle could sink the agreement, reviving legal uncertainty for some 1.4 million EU citizens working in Switzerland and for Swiss cross-border commuters in the EU. For corporate mobility teams, the development extends the timeline and raises referendum risk. If voters or a majority of cantons reject the treaties, Switzerland could face erosion of existing market-access agreements and a return to patch-work solutions for work permits, mutual recognition of professional qualifications and social-security coordination. Multinationals should scenario-plan for both outcomes. A ‘yes’ vote would lock in legal clarity for EU assignees and ease short-term business travel, while a ‘no’ could trigger contingency quotas and higher administrative friction. The National Council will debate the referendum format later this session, but political observers believe it will be difficult to overturn the Senate’s stance.
Source: SWI swissinfo.ch
