Swiss wary of nationalist proposal to force referendums for all major treaties

GENEVA – Switzerland is holding a referendum — on whether to hold more referendums.

Nationalists in the Alpine republic want Swiss voters to have an automatic say every time their government signs an important international treaty.

Opponents of the plan, including most major parties, say the move could gridlock Swiss democracy by forcing votes on hundreds of treaties.

Switzerland already holds about half a dozen national referendums each year and more on local issues.

But Werner Gartenmann of the group Action for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland accused political elites Wednesday of being afraid of Swiss voters.

Gartenmann says the measure could pass Sunday despite recent polls showing that a majority of voters are against the idea.