Swiss Referendum on public broadcasting fee and federal tax, 4 March 2018

Further information:

The key issues of the Swiss referendum held on 4 March 2018 were the public broadcasting fee and the federal tax.

The results of the referendum clearly showed that 71.6% of voters reject the proposal of scrapping a compulsory public broadcasting fee, considered fundamental for the funding of Swiss radio and television.

While, as regards the federal tax, 84.1% of voters confirm the government's right to collect federal taxes up to 2035. As a matter of fact, Switzerland levies taxes at three levels: federal, cantonal and local.

On 4 March 2018 a referendum on public broadcasting licence fee and federal taxes was held in Switzerland.

Swissinfo.ch, 04.03.18: Tax 'total meltdown' averted https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/directdemocracy/vote-march-4--2018_tax--total-meltdown--set-to-be-avoided/43943294

Swissinfo.ch, 04.03.18: Attack on public broadcasting licence fee clearly fails https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/vote-march-4--2018_attack-on-public-broadcast-licence-fee-set-to-fail/43935166

The Local.ch, 04.03.18: Swiss vote against plan to scrap compulsory TV licence fee https://www.thelocal.ch/20180304/swiss-voters-poised-to-keep-media-license-fee

The Local.ch, 05.03.18: Swiss referendum results: everything you need to know https://www.thelocal.ch/20180305/swiss-referendum-results-everything-you-need-to-know-direct-democracy

Le News, 04.03.18: Swiss vote results on public broadcasting fee and federal tax – 4 March 2018 https://lenews.ch/2018/03/04/swiss-vote-results-on-public-broadcasting-fee-and-federal-tax-4-march-2018/

BBC News, 04.03.18: Switzerland TV licence: Voters reject plan to scrap fee http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-43278646

Reuters, 04.03.18: Switzerland vote to retain licence fee for state broadcaster https://uk.reuters.com/article/swiss-media/update-1-switzerland-vote-to-retain-licence-fee-for-state-broadcaster-idUKL5N1QM0PY

Deutsche Welle, 04.03.18: Swiss vote to retain taxpayer funding for public broadcaster http://www.dw.com/en/swiss-vote-to-retain-taxpayer-funding-for-public-broadcaster/a-42819374

Euro|topics, March 2018: Switzerland: yes to public broadcasters http://www.eurotopics.net/en/194856/switzerland-yes-to-public-broadcasters

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