ZURICH: Switzerland’s federal government must periodically seek voter approval to collect taxes. Currently, the federal government has the right to levy these taxes until 2020. Today’s New Financial Regime 2021 vote, is aimed at extending this right until 2035.
The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, Switzerland’s public broadcaster is largely funded by a broadcasting fee. This fee, known colloquially as Billag, the name of the agency that collects it, is paid by most companies and essentially every household. The No Billag initiative, is a bid to do away with fee. The New Financial Regime 2021 vote was accepted by 84.1% of voters, while the No Billag vote was rejected by 71.6% of voters.
A majority of voters in all cantons were in favour of the New Financial Regime 2021 initiative and against the No Billag initiative. The often seen linguistic divide was absent on both votes.
