Swiss voters will head to the ballot box Sunday to make a decision whether to abolish their conscript army, as much part of the Alpine nation’s image as direct democracy, chocolate and cheese.
Countries across Europe have ditched the draft within the twenty years because the end of the Cold War, and pro-change campaigners say Switzerland should head an identical way.
But pollsters forecast the anti-conscription referendum — spearheaded by pacifists, backed by left-wing parties, and opposed by the correct, parliament and the govt. — will fall flat.
A survey last week gave it only 31 percent support.
A vote on abolishing the military outright in 1989 mustered a surprise 36 percent support, but just 21 percent backed an identical move in 2001.
The debate has exposed sharp divisions between adversaries who see the mass army as a relic and people who cherish it as a hub of national identity.
“It’s going to take time to shift the mindset. It’s anchored pretty deep within the national psyche,” said Tobias Schnebli, spokesman of the anti-military group GSoA.
Male Swiss citizens aged between 18 and 32 start with a seven-week boot camp and take six 19-day refresher exercises over ensuing years. Since 1992, non-military service was available for conscientious objectors.
Armed neutrality have been the Swiss watchword for 2 centuries, with part-time soldiers keeping their arms at home.
Switzerland has not been attacked because the early 1800s, though both world wars sparked mass mobilisation.
“We’re neutral, and never exactly at risk, so can we actually need this method?” said serviceman Cedric, 23, who asked that his name be withheld.
Switzerland is ringed by friendly nations, but draft supporters say the established order is significant in an international of morphing threats, since post-conscription countries struggle to fill the distance.
“There wouldn’t be enough volunteers, those that came forward wouldn’t be ideal, while a pro army would just attract Rambos and mercenaries,” said army commander General Andre Blattman, 57.
– Cementing the nation? –
The pro-draft camp says a citizen army is greater than an army force.
“Abolishing military service would break the real link uniting the folks and the military,” insisted Defence Minister Ueli Maurer, 62.”
The army has long been seen because the cement of a highly-federal country with three main language groups — German, French and Italian.
“I’ve served with German-speakers and Italian-speakers. It brings us together,” said Nicolas Bauer, 22, a psychology student in French-speaking Geneva.
Many regard the army as a leveller.
“Everyone’s mixed together. That’s important. I’ve served with apprentice butchers and cheesemakers, and folks with law or business degrees,” Bauer told AFP.
Service has long been seen as oiling the wheels of the economy, with its contacts and talents appreciated by business.
Swiss firms must free male staff for military duty. The state covers 80 percent in their salary, and most companies prefer to pay the rest 20 percent.
“The militia system means the military can expect people whose professional qualifications make our country one of several world’s top-performing economies,” said Maurer.
Critics dismiss such arguments.
Schnebli, 55, said fellow Italian-speakers stuck together in his army days. At the least, he said, today’s world offers multiple different ways to work, study and fasten across language divides.
“It’s a little a legend. And what about women? They’re half the population. Don’t they count? And around 40 percent of guys drafted are declared unfit for service. Many are city dwellers and middle class, they’re better at playing the system, so the thought of a broad mix doesn’t reflect reality,” said Schnebli.
Men who don’t serve pay a unique tax of 4 percent in their salary instead.
Analysts also say the price of “militia” service — a term the Swiss apply to part-time politicians or volunteer fire-fighters besides — is losing ground to individualism.
Meanwhile, the once-colossal army has shrunk for budgetary and strategic reasons.
A 1961 reform cut it from 800,000 to 625,000. It was slashed to 400,000 in 1995, and 200,000 a decade later.
The current count is 155,000, in a population of eight million, and by 2016 another reform will take it to 100,000 — still needlessly big, critics says.
In comparison, there are almost 183,000 active troops in neighbouring Germany, with 10 times the population.
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