Reflections on Monier | 24 hours

We will vote at an unknown date on a popular initiative that calls for the granting of cantonal voting rights to foreigners who have lived in Switzerland for ten years, including three years in the canton. It calls into question the political legitimacy provided by nationality and thus the legitimacy and justification of naturalization itself. Accepting it would fundamentally undermine the Vaudois community’s sense of belonging and the concept of participation in its destiny.

The initiator’s vision is formal and egalitarian. She believes that living in the Canton of Vaud for a certain period of time is enough to enjoy the right to vote and to be elected. What does “living” mean in such a context? Nothing, because the initiative refuses to demand first of all that people be integrated into the historical and moral community that welcomes them. And we dare not even talk about assimilation.

This formalism denies judgment and absolves decision-makers of responsibility. For the initiators, judgment can only be that of discriminatory, arbitrary decision-makers. Their citizenship does not derive from a living political reality made up of connections, anchors, and personal commitments. It derives only from a scribbled check mark on a calendar.

The initiative glosses over the identity issue, even pokes fun at it: “Valleyans can vote. Why not Texans or Nigerians?” She’s also sentimental, even whiny: it’s “unfair” to deny the right to vote to people who should have “contributed” to the life of the state. She can also be a bit opportunistic.

In this concept, the Canton of Vaud is reduced to a simple territory, without history, without depth and without culture. Although it predates the Confederation, it is its sovereign and original link. At best, the initiative reduces citizens to the status of consumers, workers or taxpayers. At worst, it refuses any definition of citizenship.

Willing act

The assimilation process is long and arduous. Working for a multinational company in La Côte for ten years without ever learning French is not enough to make one a boss. It results from personal effort and, at least for adults, begins with an act of will. In addition to mastering the language, it involves integrating Vaudois customs into everyday life.

Subordinating the vote to nationality is not a form of disrespect. This canton and its rich daily life extend their arms to foreigners who crave integration and commitment. Our rich associative structures are seriously lacking in goodwill. Trade unions and employers’ associations can have a real impact on the lives of Vaudois. They remind us that politics is not only played out at the cantonal level. The Vaudois Alliance will be part of this movement and it hopes not to be alone.

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