Swiss coalition submits 131,800 signatures for nuclear referendum

The 'No to New Nuclear Power Stations' coalition submitted more than 131,800 signatures to the Federal Chancellery in Bern in support of a referendum against the construction of new nuclear power plants in Switzerland, the coalition said. The committee had until October 8 to collect 50,000.

If the referendum is approved, Swiss voters are likely to be able to vote on the legislative amendment on February 28, 2027 at the earliest, according to SWI swissinfo.ch.

The coalition comprises the Greens, the Socialist Democrats, the Green Liberal Party and other organisations. Building new nuclear plants would make the country dependent on foreign energy, cost billions and hinder the development of renewable energy, according to the initiative committee.

In late September, an alliance including economiesuisse, the Swiss Nuclear Forum, the Swiss Business Federation (SGV), Swissmem, Centre Patronal, scienceindustries, Axpo, Alpiq, BKW and the Association of Swiss Electricity Companies (VSE) launched a campaign for a 'yes' vote in the referendum on the revision of the Nuclear Energy Act, which would lift the ban on new nuclear construction. The Alliance for Secure Electricity Supply said: "Lifting the construction ban does not mean that a new nuclear power plant will be built. It will simply provide the legal framework for examining a concrete project."

The initiative is part of the indirect counter-proposal to the Federal Council's 'Stop the Blackout' initiative. The counter-proposal would lift the ban on building new nuclear reactors, in place since 2018, and Parliament has approved it. In August last year, the Federal Council presented draft legislation that would remove the ban.

Switzerland has four nuclear power reactors — two at Beznau and one each at Gösgen and Leibstadt — generating about one-third of its electricity. They all have an unlimited operating licence and can be operated as long as they are safe.