Main Issue
The Swiss Federal Council is internally divided over whether the planned EU treaties should be subject to a mandatory referendum requiring both a popular majority and a cantonal majority (approval from both the people and the cantons).
Key Players and Positions
**Supporters of Cantonal Majority Requirement:**
- **Karin Keller-Sutter** (Finance Minister, FDP)
- **Guy Parmelin** (Economics Minister, SVP)
- Position: The special significance justifies requiring approval from both people and cantons
**Opponents of Cantonal Majority Requirement:**
- **Beat Jans** (Justice Minister, SP)
- **Ignazio Cassis** (Foreign Minister, FDP)
- Position: Legal concerns, strategic considerations (popular majority more likely to pass)
Legal Controversy
**Federal Office of Justice (Jans):**
- Cantonal majority requirement legally difficult to justify
- Would need constitutional revision for mandatory referendum
**Finance Ministry (Keller-Sutter):**
- Mandatory procedure with cantonal majority is constitutional
- References EEA precedent (referendum sui generis)
Federal Council Decision
- **Resolution:** Popular majority only (no cantonal vote)
- **Rationale:** Legal concerns + strategic considerations
- **Final decision:** Rests with Parliament
Practical Implications if Treaties are Adopted
**Additional Staffing Needs (several dozen positions):**
- Education/Research: ~17 positions
- Health: 12 positions
- Economics: 7 positions
- Energy: 6-7 positions
- Food Safety: 5-9 positions
**Timeline:**
- Ratification planned for Q1 2026
- Potential conflict with SVP initiatives (March 2026)
- Federal Chancellery warns of "ambitious" schedule
Political Dimension
- **FDP Dilemma:** Party split as it was during the EEA debate
- **Expected solution:** "Yes, but requiring cantonal majority"
- **SVP Strategy:** Three initiatives against EU rapprochement
Conclusion
The article reveals deep internal tensions within the Federal Council between legal, strategic, and democratic considerations regarding the EU question.