We could be getting a new public holiday. The Lower House of Parliament, the Council of States, has voted in favour of celebrating a Democracy Day on September 12th.
The day off would mark September 12th in 1848, which saw the introduction of the modern constitution that installed direct democracy, the separation of powers and federalism.
This year marks 175 years since the creation of modern Switzerland – and there are celebrations planned over the summer.
The government is against the creation of a new federal holiday. At the moment, there is only one – National Day on August 1st, which marks the signing of the Federal Charter in 1291.
That date has only been an official holiday since 1994.
The upper house, the Council of States, still needs to confirm the proposed new holiday.
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