Swiss Politics

Anja	Todd

Todd: So, Anja, you are from Switzerland?

Anja: Yes, exactly.

Todd: So, I thought we would talk a little about your country.

Anja: OK.

Todd: First of all, what do you like most about being Swiss?

Anja: Actually, what I like the most about Switzerland is that the country is neutral, so that means that we have an army but we don't have war with any country. We go abroad to support people and help people if there is some sort of war or some trouble abroad, but we don't fight against any country.

Todd: So when there's a major conflict, you don't take a side.

Anja: That's exactly this.

Todd: So, how about ,,, are Swiss people very political? Like are they in terms of your country, like are they very involved with politics?

Anja: Yes, actually you have to, especially young people are very involved in politics as well, and like we have votes and what not, like every month there's something we have to give our vote, and people always do it. It's really amazing. I like that a lot.

Todd: What a minute! You vote every month?

Anja: Yeah, for some local things or prefectural things and we always get the stuff back home in the mail, and then we have to fill it out. You know, tick a yes or a no and bring it to the, how do you say?

Todd: Like the post office?

Anja: Yes. Then vote.

Todd: So, it's like a referendum? It's about some local issue.

Anja: Yes, exactly. Like referendums or yeah, for the prefecture, for your city or for your village all the time.

Todd: That's pretty amazing. Now, are these issues that you take time to look into, or do you just kind of guess?

Anja: Well, it depends a little bit, like, if it's not of very big importance, like of course, everything is important, but then, you know, you just do what you feel is the right thing and you just tick a yes or no, but if you feel like it's a really big deal, like a lot of money's being invested or it's like something that concerns the whole country, then of course you will do like research on it and well, it's on the news anyway, so you .. they like the government informs you a lot and you get brochures like for the topics and so, yeah. It's a really big deal.