Facts
The Federal Court dismissed the appeal of the Association Action for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland (CINS) and its President, National Councillor Pirmin Schwander, against the decision of the Federal Chancellery of 30 October 2012. The Federal Chancellery had determined that the referendum against the international treaty with the United Kingdom had not been successful, as the necessary 50,000 signatures were not submitted within the collection period of 100 days.Considerations
The Federal Court stated that the Federal Chancellery published the Federal Resolution on the agreements at the earliest possible time in the Federal Gazette, as there was a certain urgency for the publication in order to clarify as quickly as possible the need for a popular vote. The procedure of the Federal Chancellery in setting the referendum deadline was therefore justified by objective reasons.
The Federal Court further found that the authors of the referendum themselves are responsible for the fact that the Federal Chancellery could no longer consider the signatures that were received late from the canton of Geneva. The referendum committees should have submitted the signatures in a timely manner in smaller partial shipments, in accordance with the recommendations of the Federal Chancellery. Instead, they only…