SWITZERLAND'S FUTURE IN EUROPE: ISOLATION OR CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE
In: Governance: an international journal of policy and administration and institutions, Volume 5, Issue 2, p. 224-234
ISSN: 0952-1895
IN ORDER TO MOVE CLOSER TO THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND EVENTAULLY TO JOIN IT, SWITZERLAND MUST RESHAPE ITS POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS. A MAJOR CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM SHOULD PROVIDE FOR A REAL HEAD OF GOVERNMENT, ADAPT DIRECT DEMOCRACY TO THE CONSTRAINTS OF SUPRA-NATIONALITY, AND SIMPLIFY THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. THIS ARTICLE SUGGESTS THAT THE DOMINANT DOCTRINE OF NEGOTIATING FIRST WITH THE EC AND REFORMING LATER IS NOT REALISTIC. THE SO CALLED DOUBLE MAJORITY REFERENDUM IS GIVEN AS AN ILLUSTRATION. THIS RATIFICATION PROCEDURE IS NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRINCIPLE OF ONE MAN, ONE VOTE, AND IS CLEARLY BIASED AGAINST EUROPE.