Swiss hold divisive referendum on deporting petty criminals

[muriel_volestrangler]

The proposal, known as the "Enforcement Initiative", has been put forward by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP).
...
The new plan would also deport those who commit two minor offences, such as speeding, or arguing with a police officer, within 10 years. There would be no right of appeal: conviction would lead to deportation in every case, regardless of individual circumstances.
...
Opponents argue that those statistics reflect only a partial reality, because many of those in prison are illegal migrants awaiting deportation anyway, while the proposed new law would target the 25% of the population who are foreign, but permanently and legally resident in Switzerland.
...
Getting Swiss nationality remains a long, complicated, and relatively expensive process. Being born in Switzerland does not confer citizenship, so hundreds of thousands of Swiss residents may not have a Swiss passport, but have never actually lived anywhere else.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35644590

And here's the poster the right wing party has used, again - not subtle, is it?

[pampango]

1. "Black sheep and jackboots"

The campaign has been emotional and divisive. An infamous black sheep poster, widely criticised as racist when it was first used by the People's Party several years ago, has reappeared.

What seems to worry some voters most is not the idea that the Swiss government should be tougher on crime, which is in fact low by European standards, but that the new proposal would create a two-tier justice system, one for the Swiss, and one for foreigners.

Others have lashed out, bitterly condemning the Swiss People's Party as dangerously discriminatory.

"How long before foreigners are forced to wear a sign so that the law-abiding Swiss know to steer clear of them? Maybe a big red A for Auslander (foreigner)?", wrote one.

I wonder if the "Swiss Koch brother" is still the head of the Peoples Party that is sponsoring this?

Christoph Blocher, 73, is Switzerland's most controversial politician. The billionaire entrepreneur transformed the Swiss People's Party (SWP) into a right-wing populist organization that campaigns against the European Union, immigration and Islam. It was Blocher, educated as a lawyer, who led the successful campaign against Switzerland joining the European Economic Area in 1992. From 2004 to 2007, he served as a member of the government before getting voted out of office. He remains a leader in Swiss politics and recently financed the campaign against "mass immigration" to the tune of 3 million francs (€2.45 million/$3.4 million).

SPIEGEL: Most of your applause is coming from right-wing extremist parties. Do you feel comfortable in the company of these groups?

Blocher: No, I do not associate with this lot. But it isn't possible to prevent such applause. The SVP has nothing to do with xenophobia. I also reject the accusation that Switzerland is xenophobic. ... That is vilification from opponents and journalists. SVP is currently the largest party and it will soon turn 100 years old. It is business-friendly and conservative.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/interview-with-swiss-populist-leader-christoph-blocher-a-953956.html

[LittleGirl]

2. Imagine

our surprise when we find one of these flyers in our mailbox at home. Ugh.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

3. 'Arguing with a police officer' is itself a crime in Switzerland? Ugh.

Now admittedly, it is, in essence in the US, since they'll use it to proclaim some other trumped up charge if they feel like it, but at least it's not explicitly so.