[JURIST] Fifty-nine percent of Swiss voters opposed a proposal on Sunday that would prevent tax increases for corporations. Switzerland gives foreign firms lower taxes [Reuters report] than domestic firms, which was criticized by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [official website]. In response, the Swiss government planned to change the special status of foreign multinational corporations but offer tax breaks to all corporations to avoid a rise in taxes for foreign businesses. The proposal was rejected by Social Democrats and others, who feared that the lower taxes on businesses would cause less funding to go towards public services. Finance Minister Ueli Maurer [official profile] said that the government will need to devise a new plan, but he is worried that companies might withdraw from Switzerland in the meantime.

The past year, Switzerland has voted on several issues that have drawn interest in the international community. In June Swiss voters rejected [JURIST report] a plan to provide all citizens with guaranteed basic income. Swiss voters approved [JURIST] a new surveillance law in September. In November voters rejected [JURIST] a plan to phase out the country’s nuclear power program.