Switzerland's Oldest 'Direct Democracy System' Resumes After 2 Years Amid COVID-19

Switzerland's oldest direct democracy system, which was canceled last year due to the spread of COVID-19, resumed after about two years.

Local media Swissinfo reported on the 5th (local time) that the Landsgemeinde, a residents' assembly, was held in the canton of Glarus in the east after 2 years and 4 months.

At the Landsgemeinde that day, residents handled a total of 19 agenda items over about five hours, including deciding not to use fossil fuels for the heating system of a new building.

The Landsgemeinde is a form of direct democracy where residents with voting rights gather in an outdoor square to decide major issues by a show of hands.

As the population of Switzerland increased, most canton-level Landsgemeinde assemblies disappeared. However, Glarus, with a population of only about 40,000, has maintained this tradition since 1387 along with the canton of Appenzell.

Glarus canceled the event last year for the first time since the establishment of the federal government in 1848 due to the spread of COVID-19.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.