From Federal Ueli Maurer
Voltaire once said: "I may condemn what you say but I will defend my life that you can not say it." This is the lupenreinste democratic spirit in a nutshell.
One must own strongly considered, one must question and criticize other opinions, but we must prohibit anyone's mouth. For every white Democrat, a democracy can function only when two conditions are met:
First, the citizens have the opportunity to form an opinion. Second, referenda are unconditionally accepted and implemented.
independent thought
That's the basics of democracy. In Switzerland, each was supposed to be familiar. I deliberately say "should". Because I'm concerned about our democratic values.
There are forces in our country who are opposed to free competition - they want the free competition of products and services . Abolish The aim for our prosperity. But there also seems to forces that want to eliminate even the free competition of ideas and opinions. And that takes direct aim at our democracy. For
can form an opinion only, who has the opportunity to hear different opinions.
Democracy is the marketplace of ideas. This goes back to ancient times. On the market place, goods were traded and exchanged views. This developed into the political debate and self-determination of citizenship.
Everyone can make offers on the market for ideas: opinions, ideas, solutions. And anyone can check the deals on to question the advantages and disadvantages. Anyone may consider and decide for what convinced him most. And the idea, which then finds the greatest support, the idea is acceptable to a majority of which is made by then.
In our country there is a tradition that people openly discuss and form a clear opinion. That was already the old rural communes. And that was guaranteed in the first Constitution of 1848: freedom of press, freedom of association and right to petition to protect the open debate.
Since then it has the force of law: freedom of expression. Freedom of assembly. This is also in the current Constitution. Only the reality is unfortunately different.
No single case
riot designers fight the free speech and open political debate with threats and violence. We seem to have authorities that are struggling to enforce the constitutional order - on to our rally, 2007, during the attack on our General Secretariat in Bern 28th November.2010 and during the ban attacks on our delegates' meeting in Lausanne.
The action against the SVP is not unique. The self-proclaimed "tolerant" are intolerant quickly when someone has a different understanding of tolerance. Dissenters are to be addressed immediately targeted.
The program "Arena", for example, gets a new leader because the former sympathies have been accused for the SVP. The proximity to the SVP of course, is invented, but apparently there is already a violation of political correctness when one of the interests of an exciting and controversial discussion from time to time considered the strongest party voters.
we look to Geneva: A newspaper is a journalist now and not in the big sing along chorus. The media blow immediately to the attack. In the name of openness and tolerance, he will be tried as a heretic.
This trend worries me: If critics will not be met with arguments, but with threats of violence, bullying, then that free competition no longer plays of ideas. And that is nothing more than an attack on democracy.
referendums implement
The second prerequisite for a functioning democracy, the implementation of the plebiscites would need in our country with its long and successful tradition of democracy, be a matter of course.
The reality, unfortunately there too different. It is worrying, as referenda are derogatory comments, if they turn out not as do the certain circles.
those who dismiss the real problems of the citizens as diffuse fears, among them is that they are irrational or paranoid, and thus incapable of a reasonable decision. This is simply arrogant. And quickly then the step is made, the very principle to doubt the majority of the people.
Because even writes the "NZZ", which sees itself as the tide of liberalism, the people were themselves to blame, if now getting to the decision to expel initiative of the discussion about limiting the right of initiative, new food - in other words, this means that you People, You can go vote, as long as you take a vote as we wish. If you decide otherwise, we will remove your no democratic rights.
living democracy
I wish the democratic understanding would be in that part of society, who sees himself as the elite this country understands better anchored.
I appeal to the democratic conscience of all those who - is hardly counted - search for all kinds of reasons to ignore the popular will: Beware, set the cohesion of our society at risk! Watch out, you undermine the very basis of our freedom and our prosperity!
And I also see the responsibility of the SVP for Switzerland: Our country needs a political force that ensures diversity in the debate and defended the rights of the people. Our country needs a political force that makes for a vibrant democracy!
Ueli Maurer
speech to the party the SVP on 4 December 2010 to an open field in Gland (VD)
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