Voters could scupper Swiss motorway extension plans

Less than two weeks ahead of a federal referendum on November 24, a majority of Swiss voters – including those living abroad – are against a proposed expansion of the motorway network, according to a poll by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Supporters of the motorway expansion plans are losing ground. A month ago, they still enjoyed a slim majority. Now, a second poll by the gfs.bern research institute on behalf of the SBC, swissinfo.ch’s parent company, shows a reversal. A small majority (51%) is against the project, while 47% of voters back it. Just 2% are undecided. Support among Swiss citizens abroad has also plummeted. In the first poll, the diaspora was surprisingly favourable towards the authorities’ plan to relieve motorway traffic congestion – they backed it considerably more than the Swiss population as a whole. Now, the Swiss Abroad are divided: half support it, half oppose it. This trend is more in line with the usual behaviour of the Swiss Abroad, who tend to ...