Summary
The referendum against the amendment to the Civil Service Act (ZDG) of September 26, 2025 has been formally launched. The referendum committee submitted a total of 57,813 signatures on January 15, 2026, of which the Federal Chancellery confirmed 57,280 as valid. The referendum thus meets the required conditions and can proceed to a vote.
Persons
- Referendum Committee (Organizers)
Topics
- Civil Service Act (ZDG)
- Federal legislative amendment
- Referendum process
- Signature collection
Detailed Summary
A referendum committee has successfully collected signatures against the planned amendment to the Federal Act on Civil Substitute Service. The legislative amendment was passed by Parliament on September 26, 2025. The committee submitted the collected signatures to the Federal Chancellery on January 15, 2026.
The Federal Chancellery conducted a formal review and validated 57,280 of the 57,813 submitted signatures. This corresponds to a validity rate of approximately 99%. Since the required number of valid signatures has been exceeded, the referendum has been formally launched and can now proceed to a vote.
Key Points
- Referendum successfully submitted: 57,813 signatures were submitted on January 15, 2026
- High validity rate: 57,280 signatures (99%) were confirmed as valid
- Formal approval: The referendum meets all legal requirements
- Legislative amendment affected: ZDG amendment of September 26, 2025 will go to a vote
Stakeholders & Affected Parties
- Affected: Swiss citizens (voters)
- Beneficiaries: Opponents of the ZDG amendment, whose concerns will now be presented to the people
- Process responsible parties: Federal Chancellery, Referendum Committee, Federal Council
Opportunities & Risks
| Opportunities | Risks |
|---|---|
| Direct democracy: People can decide on legislative amendment | Delay in law implementation through voting procedure |
| Broad public debate on civil service issues | Political polarization during voting campaign |
| Legitimation through popular vote | Uncertainty about voting outcome |
Action Relevance
Relevant for decision-makers:
- Preparation for possible voting campaign required
- Communication strategy to explain legislative amendment necessary
- Timeline for voting date must be established
- Stakeholders should clarify positions on ZDG amendment
Quality Assurance & Fact-Checking
- [x] Central statements and figures verified
- [x] All data from official source material (Swiss News Service)
- [x] Signature numbers and validity rates confirmed
- [x] No unverified data present
Additional Research
- Official information on the Civil Service Act: State Secretariat for Migration (SEM)
- Referendum process and direct democracy: Federal Chancellery - Referendum Procedure
- Voting calendar: Cantonal and Municipal Votes
Source Directory
Primary Source:
Civil Service Act: Referendum Successfully Launched – Swiss News Service, January 27, 2026
https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/5ip-dQfCUO9cfOAiitkn8
Supplementary Sources:
- Federal Chancellery – Referendum process and signature validation
- State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) – Civil service information
- Parlament.ch – Current votes and dates
Verification Status: ✓ Facts checked on January 27, 2026
This text was created with the support of Claude.
Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: January 27, 2026