Swiss citizens have delivered a decisive message at the ballot box, rejecting motorway expansion plans and proposed changes to tenancy laws in a pivotal referendum on Sunday. The results highlight the nation’s focus on environmental preservation and tenant protections amid growing concerns about sustainability and housing shortages.
A €5.3 million government plan to expand motorways at six critical locations, including near Bern and between Geneva and Lausanne, was voted down by 52.7% of participants. The proposal, supported by parliament last year, aimed to address increasing traffic, which has reportedly grown fivefold over the past six decades. However, environmental advocates and left-leaning groups successfully opposed the measure, arguing it would exacerbate traffic congestion and harm the environment.
“This outcome reflects the public’s commitment to climate-friendly solutions and a more sustainable transportation system,” said Mattea Meyer, a leader in the opposition campaign. Advocacy groups are now urging the government to redirect funds toward public transport improvements, active mobility projects, and the renovation of existing motorways.
Housing security also emerged as a key theme in the referendum. Voters rejected two measures that sought to ease eviction rules and tighten subletting regulations. One proposal, which would have simplified early lease terminations for landlords’ personal use, was turned down by 53.8% of voters. A second initiative to impose stricter subletting rules was narrowly defeated, with 51.6% voting against it.
The housing proposals drew widespread resistance, particularly in French-speaking cantons such as Geneva, where 67.8% of voters opposed the eviction measure amid an acute housing crisis. Switzerland’s high rate of renters—60% of the population, the highest in Europe—amplified public interest in the vote.
These decisions reflect a growing preference among Swiss citizens for policies that balance development with environmental sustainability and social equity, setting a clear direction for the country’s future policymaking.
