This month marks 50 years that women have had the right to vote on federal matters in Switzerland
Listen Again
Wednesday, 17 February 2021 - 7 minutes
In February 1971 a referendum passed with a 66% majority to allow women the federal vote.
Babette Verazzi was born and raised in Vaud, Switzerland and lived in Perroy at the time. She spoke to WRS' Katt Cullen about this month 50 years ago.
She remembers her proud uncle, who fought in the war, who didn't think women should vote.
She remembers her father who thought it was important that women should vote, but also his friends who she says were "masochistic" and did not.
She remembers the tension between the French-speaking and German-speaking parts of the country on this issue.
And she remembers going alone to the voting booth for the first time for a federal matter later on in 1971, full of joy and proud of Switzerland.
