SO cantonal council rejects objection to new billposting regulations
Political parties in Solothurn may put up campaign posters for the national parliamentary elections on October 22 in accordance with the rules set forth in a new ordinance. The Cantonal Council decisively rejected an objection to the ordinance raised by members of the SVP, with 74 votes against and 20 in favor.
The SVP cantonal councillors had criticized the following wording: "It is not permitted to erect and affix voting and election posters as well as voting and election advertisements on or to public property in administrative assets". The majority of the population is not aware of what is meant by "administrative property".
SVP faction spokesman Beat Künzli spoke on Wednesday of "insufficient work" by the government council and the state chancellery. He said it was "almost scandalous" that such changes were made so shortly before the national elections. "This mess could have been avoided," Künzli said. The representatives of the other parties countered that the SVP was abusing the issue for the election campaign.
In its response to the veto, the government council had written that the term would still be explained with examples in the ordinance. It is no longer permitted to put up posters on "administrative buildings, work yards, school buildings, prisons and all associated structures and installations such as fences, shelters, barriers, protective equipment or poles".
Adhere to previous practice
Instead of on September 13 as planned, the Cantonal Council - at the request of the Greens - already dealt with the SVP veto on September 6. With the rejection, it is now clear that the new ordinance is valid. This means that election posters may be put up as early as Saturday morning, September 9, and not only on Sunday as under previous rules. In addition, a slightly larger format is allowed.
The government council had argued that already in the past no voting and election advertising had been hung up at schools, city halls or prisons. The new regulation simply defines this practice more precisely. In the event of unauthorized billposting, the municipal or cantonal authorities could "informally request those responsible to remove the posters within a reasonable period of time or to relocate them to another site. (SDA)
