ZURICH – Swiss prosecutors have launched an investigation into allegations of fraudulent signature collection in efforts to trigger referendums, a key feature of Switzerland’s direct democracy.
The Federal Chancellery, which oversees election processes, filed criminal charges with the federal prosecutor, citing concerns over the falsification of signatures by certain companies hired to gather names for referendums. Swiss Chancellor Viktor Rossi described the matter as a serious abuse of the country’s democratic system.
Campaigns often turn to external companies to meet strict signature collection deadlines, but the practice has led to accusations of false submissions. For a referendum to be triggered, 100,000 signatures are required for initiatives to change the constitution, while 50,000 signatures are needed for laws passed by parliament to be challenged.
The case is part of a broader investigation, which first came to light in 2022 and has expanded to target several popular initiatives. While the Chancellery has not disclosed which referendums are affected, it has confirmed that many false signatures have been identified across 12 initiatives.
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has carried out house searches and seized property as part of the investigation. Swiss media reported that one company offered to deliver 10,000 signatures for 4.50 Swiss francs ($5.29) each, but local authorities found that up to 90% of those signatures were invalid.
The situation has prompted calls for reforms, including a possible ban on paid signature collection. Efforts to ensure the integrity of the referendum system have led to tighter signature checks in recent months.