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Source: swissinfo.ch
Voters have rejected the purchase of Swedish fighter jets for Switzerland’s air force. It is the first major defeat for the government in a ballot on military matters for 20 years.
Voters decided that the Gripen won't take off (Keystone)
Final results show 53.4% of voters came out against the acquisition of 22 JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets by the Swedish Saab company.
Political analyst Claude Longchamp of the leading GfS Bern research and polling institute says opposition by both the political left and some centrist parties made the difference.
“It gives the armed forces something to think about,” says Longchamp. It is the first time that the left, who had challenged a parliament decision to a nationwide vote, has been successful.
The defeat for the government and a majority in parliament comes more than 20 years after voters approved the acquisition of F/A-18 fighter jets.
Financial aspect
Opponents of the CHF3.1 billion ($3.5 billion) credit for the Gripen say the ballot box verdict is based on financial aspects, but not a vote against the armed forces.
“A majority of voters decided for financial reasons and against the scaremongering by the defence ministry,” says Evi Allemann, a senior Social Democratic parliamentarian.
The opposition said the purchase and maintenance of the 22 Gripen planes would cost about CHF10 billion – money better spent on education and social security.
Roland Fischer of the centrist Liberal Green Party said the protracted political procedure, including a U-turn by the government, contributed to the result.
“Many technical and financial questions about an acquisition of the Gripen remained unanswered,” he said.
The pacifist Switzerland without an Army group the outcome of the vote for peace.
However, Jakob Büchler a leading centre-right supporter of the Gripen, says the result is a setback for the air force. He said the campaign had failed to show the importance of the vote for the armed forces.
The Gripen was due to replace the fleet of F-5 Tiger aircraft which will be taken out of service by 2017. But Switzerland still has 32 F/A-18 jets.
Convoluted history
The vote is the latest stage in a convoluted procedure to partially renew the Swiss Air Force.
The government temporarily shelved plans for new jets before it changed its mind. The Gripen was eventually chosen over France’s Rafale and EADS’ Eurofighter Typhoon four years ago.
But a logjam continued to delay the acquisition. Although the House of Representatives had given its green light, the Senate blocked it. It was only last September that both parliamentary chambers finally gave their approval.
In the meantime pacifist groups sought to impose a moratorium on the purchase of fighter jets. They had collected enough signatures for a nationwide vote, but decided to withdraw their initiative for tactical reasons.
However, it did not stop an alliance of centre-left groups from challenging the parliamentary decision, collecting the necessary signatures to force a nationwide vote.
Army issues – including conscription, fighter jet acquisitions, arms exports and the keeping of army-issue firearms at home – have enjoyed broad backing at the ballot box.
Gripen fighter jets: Wings of air force clipped in nationwide ballot - swissinfo.ch
Voters have rejected the purchase of Swedish fighter jets for Switzerland’s air force. It is the first major defeat for the government in a ballot on military matters for 20 years.
Voters decided that the Gripen won't take off (Keystone)
Final results show 53.4% of voters came out against the acquisition of 22 JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets by the Swedish Saab company.
Political analyst Claude Longchamp of the leading GfS Bern research and polling institute says opposition by both the political left and some centrist parties made the difference.
“It gives the armed forces something to think about,” says Longchamp. It is the first time that the left, who had challenged a parliament decision to a nationwide vote, has been successful.
The defeat for the government and a majority in parliament comes more than 20 years after voters approved the acquisition of F/A-18 fighter jets.
Financial aspect
Opponents of the CHF3.1 billion ($3.5 billion) credit for the Gripen say the ballot box verdict is based on financial aspects, but not a vote against the armed forces.
“A majority of voters decided for financial reasons and against the scaremongering by the defence ministry,” says Evi Allemann, a senior Social Democratic parliamentarian.
The opposition said the purchase and maintenance of the 22 Gripen planes would cost about CHF10 billion – money better spent on education and social security.
Roland Fischer of the centrist Liberal Green Party said the protracted political procedure, including a U-turn by the government, contributed to the result.
“Many technical and financial questions about an acquisition of the Gripen remained unanswered,” he said.
The pacifist Switzerland without an Army group the outcome of the vote for peace.
However, Jakob Büchler a leading centre-right supporter of the Gripen, says the result is a setback for the air force. He said the campaign had failed to show the importance of the vote for the armed forces.
The Gripen was due to replace the fleet of F-5 Tiger aircraft which will be taken out of service by 2017. But Switzerland still has 32 F/A-18 jets.
Convoluted history
The vote is the latest stage in a convoluted procedure to partially renew the Swiss Air Force.
The government temporarily shelved plans for new jets before it changed its mind. The Gripen was eventually chosen over France’s Rafale and EADS’ Eurofighter Typhoon four years ago.
But a logjam continued to delay the acquisition. Although the House of Representatives had given its green light, the Senate blocked it. It was only last September that both parliamentary chambers finally gave their approval.
In the meantime pacifist groups sought to impose a moratorium on the purchase of fighter jets. They had collected enough signatures for a nationwide vote, but decided to withdraw their initiative for tactical reasons.
However, it did not stop an alliance of centre-left groups from challenging the parliamentary decision, collecting the necessary signatures to force a nationwide vote.
Army issues – including conscription, fighter jet acquisitions, arms exports and the keeping of army-issue firearms at home – have enjoyed broad backing at the ballot box.
Gripen fighter jets: Wings of air force clipped in nationwide ballot - swissinfo.ch
