Switzerland government says referendum on US fighter jets not possible

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
24 Aug 2022 23:31

The Federal Council of Switzerland said a public referendum on the controversial procurement of F-35A fighters is not possible prior to US offer expiration date.

A general view shows the Swiss National Council during its Winter Parliament Session in Bern, Switzerland, Thursday Dec. 8, 2011 (AP Photo/ /Pascal Lauener,Pool)

The controversial procurement of F-35A fighters cannot be put to a referendum before the US sales offer expires on March 31, 2023, according to the Federal Council of Switzerland, which said this on Wednesday.

This Thursday, the petition from a leftist alliance asking him to annul the $6.2 billion purchase of 36 fighter jets passed the necessary level of 100,000 signatures, and the government accepted it for review.

But the government contended that the "schedule requested by the authors to hold the referendum before the offer expires in March 2023 is impossible to meet."

However, given the 100,000 signature petition, the alliance was outraged by the government's statement which they argued was an attempt to avoid a referendum.

"It is an insult to more than 100,000 signatories… Considering the numerous scandals and irregularities surrounding the fighter jet deal, it is no wonder that the people are extremely skeptical about F-35," said Marionna Schlatter, a Swiss lawmaker from the Green party.

Despite the fact that Switzerland takes pride in its impartiality and direct democracy, which allows its citizens to elect their government directly, the government has stated that a referendum this time is not possible. The administration asserted that delaying the replacement of the fleet's 55 ailing planes would have detrimental effects on the country's security.