SRG: No publication of poll results regarding the March 7 referendum
The SRG will definitely not publish any polls in the run-up to the federal referendum on March 7 and will therefore also refrain from conducting a second public survey.
The Conference of Editors-in-Chief made this decision in consultation with Director General Armin Walpen, as the SRG announced on Friday. The polls conducted by Claude Longchamps’ institute gfs.bern had come under criticism after they had predicted a 53 percent “no” majority for the minaret referendum, whereas voters ultimately approved the initiative with 57 percent of the vote.
Last December, the SRG launched a detailed analysis of this discrepancy. To uphold the SRG’s credibility and in the interest of the public, the organization now intends to wait and see what the full analysis reveals. Until then, no further polls will definitely be published. An initial external analysis shows that the gfs poll on the minaret initiative was conducted methodologically correctly and in accordance with internationally recognized standards, the SRG adds.
Another external analysis is examining the possible causes of the discrepancy between the poll results and the actual outcome of the vote, as well as the political and media environment during the survey and its impact. Should the overall analysis be positive, SRG will resume the gfs polls for the June 13 referendum as usual.
Regardless of the investigations triggered by the minaret referendum, the SRG plans to commission a comprehensive, long-term study to examine the significance and impact of referendum polls on public opinion in Switzerland. An external institute will also be entrusted with this research project.
Last December, the SRG launched a detailed analysis of this discrepancy. To uphold the SRG’s credibility and in the interest of the public, the organization now intends to wait and see what the full analysis reveals. Until then, no further polls will definitely be published. An initial external analysis shows that the gfs poll on the minaret initiative was conducted methodologically correctly and in accordance with internationally recognized standards, the SRG adds.
Another external analysis is examining the possible causes of the discrepancy between the poll results and the actual outcome of the vote, as well as the political and media environment during the survey and its impact. Should the overall analysis be positive, SRG will resume the gfs polls for the June 13 referendum as usual.
Regardless of the investigations triggered by the minaret referendum, the SRG plans to commission a comprehensive, long-term study to examine the significance and impact of referendum polls on public opinion in Switzerland. An external institute will also be entrusted with this research project.
