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Tag: Citizens’ Assembly

Abschlussveranstaltung Bevölkerungsrat 2025, Zentrum für Demokratie Aarau

Closing event of the Citizens’ Assembly 2025

Written by Mireille Braun on . Posted in Current news.

On Tuesday evening, 20 May 2025, participants in the Citizens’ Assembly presented their final report on health promotion and prevention to Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider at the Kornhausforum in Bern – the culmination of a process lasting several months.

In a structured, moderated process, the 2025 Citizens’ Assembly developed and voted on reform proposals – including a national health law, better health literacy in all phases of life, and a stricter ban on advertising for alcohol and nicotine.

Over 100 guests from politics, science and healthcare were in attendance and witnessed how democratic participation can be successful in a concrete, constructive and solution-oriented manner.

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Citizens’ Assembly supports the introduction of a federal health law

Written by Mireille Braun on . Posted in Current news, Media releases.

  • The Citizens’ Assembly, consisting of 100 randomly selected Swiss residents, voted on its reform proposals after intensive debates.
  • The Citizens’ Assembly supports the introduction of a national health law, the tightening of advertising bans on nicotine- and alcohol-containing products, and the strengthening of health literacy at all stages of life.
  • The research project conducted by the Universities of Zurich and Geneva, coordinated by the Centre for Democracy Studies Aarau (CDA), investigates whether and how citizens’ assemblies enrich democratic debates.

The Citizens’ Assembly concluded its work this weekend and voted on reform proposals for health promotion and prevention after a final intensive debate. The participants, a randomly selected cross-section of the Swiss population, discussed ten specific measures and adopted six of them. These include the introduction of a national health law, the tightening of advertising bans on nicotine- and alcohol-containing products, and the strengthening of health literacy in all phases of life.

While democracies around the world are under pressure, Switzerland is experimenting with new complementary forms and actively working to foster a constructive culture of debate. The results of the Citizens’ Assembly vote provide insight into which reform proposals an informed cross-section of the population considers particularly urgent in order to strengthen health promotion and prevention in Switzerland and reduce healthcare costs in the long term. For example, the Citizens’ Assembly supports the introduction of a national health law, the tightening of advertising bans on nicotine- and alcohol-containing products, and the strengthening of health literacy in all phases of life.

«Practical reform proposals»

Anne Lévy, Director of the Federal Office of Public Health, praised the work of the Citizens’ Assembly on site: «I am impressed by how the participants in the Citizens’ Assembly have engaged in discussions on possible solutions and delved deeply into health policy. The Citizens’ Assembly has developed practical reform proposals for legal, structural and other preventive measures. I am curious to see what will happen with the results now.»

The reform proposals were developed in several phases. After a thematic introduction on the first weekend, the participants deepened their knowledge in online meetings. During the discussion weekend in February, they debated with stakeholders from politics and healthcare. The final report reflects the opinions formed by this informed committee.

Prof. Dr. Daniel Kübler, co-initiator of the project at the University of Zurich, emphasises the importance of the project: «The Citizens’ Assembly impressively demonstrates how a diverse cross-section of the population can make informed decisions on complex political issues. This strengthens the democratic system and complements political discourse.»

Handover to Federal Councillor Baume-Schneider

The adopted reform proposals will be presented in more detail by the Citizens’ Assembly at a media conference in mid-April. The final report will be handed over by the Population Council to Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider at the closing event on 20 May. In addition, the results of the Citizens’ Assembly will be discussed and evaluated by representatives of the political support group at the event.

Further information:

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Citizens’ Assembly discusses reform proposals on health promotion and prevention

Written by Mireille Braun on . Posted in Current news, Media releases.

  • The 2025 Citizens’ Assembly, comprising 100 randomly selected Swiss residents,
    is meeting this weekend in Neuchâtel.
  • Participants discuss reform proposals for health promotion and prevention,
    including with stakeholders from politics and the healthcare sector.
  • The research project conducted by the Universities of Zurich and Geneva, coordinated by the
    Centre for Democracy Studies Aarau (CDA), investigates whether and how citizens’ assemblies
    enrich democratic debates.

This weekend, the Citizens’ Assembly is meeting at the University of Neuchâtel to discuss reform proposals on health promotion and prevention – from financial incentives and advertising bans on unhealthy products to a national health law. On Saturday afternoon, stakeholders from politics and the healthcare sector will engage in dialogue with the Citizens’ Assembly.


Back in November, the Citizens’ Assembly decided on the key topic of «Health promotion & prevention». Over the past few weeks, the participants have held several online meetings to discuss the topic in depth and exchange ideas with experts. With a good understanding of the current situation and an overview of various reform proposals, the Citizens’ Assembly is now meeting again in Neuchâtel.


Focus on discussion

On the second weekend, the focus will be on discussion within the Citizens’ Assembly: reform proposals such as a national health law, the inclusion of preventive measures in basic insurance, and targeted incentives for health promotion and prevention will be debated. Measures such as tax adjustments, bans, rewards for health-conscious behaviour, strengthening health literacy, and greater involvement of employers will also be discussed. On Saturday afternoon, stakeholders from politics and the healthcare sector will engage in dialogue with the Citizens’ Assembly.

«The discussion weekend offers an opportunity to bring together different perspectives on the
urgent challenges facing the healthcare system,» emphasises co-initiator Nenad Stojanović from the University of Geneva. «Direct dialogue between the population, politicians and stakeholders in the healthcare sector enables a valuable exchange of ideas and can contribute to the development of viable reforms in healthcare policy.»


Barbara Gysi, President of the National Council’s Social Security and Health Committee (SKG), is looking forward to the discussions with the People’s Council: «The People’s Council makes an important contribution to connecting politics and society. The discussions will reveal which reform proposals reflect the diverse views of the population in the area of health promotion and prevention.»


Nicolina Onofrei from Neuchâtel, participant and director of a music school, is looking forward to the weekend with excitement: «Open exchange helps us to think outside the box. Not only do we gain a better understanding of other opinions, we can also work together to negotiate solutions.»


Final report in spring

After the discussion weekend, the Citizens’ Assembly will continue to work on the reform proposals.
They will be finalised and adopted in the final report at the closing weekend at the end of March.
This report summarises the discussions and outlines the Citizens’ Assembly positions on the reform proposals. It thus offers politicians an informed perspective on the issue and contributes to the public debate. The Citizens’ Assembly is organised by the Swiss People’s Council, which is responsible for organising the Citizens’ Assembly.

Further information

Website: www.pnyx25.uzh.ch
Factsheet reform proposals
Photos Discussion weekend (are updated continuously over the weekend)

Contact

Loïc Schwab, communications manager «Citizens’ Assembly 2025»,
loic.schwab@zda.uzh.ch, 062 836 94 41

Citizens’ Assembly discusses ways to tackle rising healthcare costs

Written by Mireille Braun on . Posted in Media releases, Unkategorisiert.

  • The 2025 Citizens’ Assembly, consisting of 100 randomly selected residents of Switzerland,
    is meeting for the first time this weekend at the University of Zurich.
  • During the kick-off weekend, participants will gain an in-depth understanding of the topic of «rising healthcare costs» and determine a focus for further discussions.
  • The research project coordinated by the Centre for Democracy Studies Aarau (ZDA) at the
    Universities of Zurich and Geneva is investigating whether and how citizens’ assemblies
    enrich democratic debates.

Rising healthcare costs are among the most pressing challenges facing Switzerland.
With premiums skyrocketing, hospitals closing and healthcare staff overworked, healthcare policy is in crisis – solutions are needed. This weekend, the Citizens’ Assembly is meeting at the University of Zurich. At this kick-off meeting, 100 randomly selected participants from across Switzerland with different backgrounds and experiences will come together to discuss the issue.
from all over Switzerland with different backgrounds and experiences will engage in conversation with one another.


The Citizens’ Assembly is a new way for citizens to come together to discuss important social issues and negotiate solutions. The focus is on ordinary Swiss residents: people of all ages, from
a wide range of professions and regions of the country. Over the course of several weekend events and digital meetings, they will take an in-depth look at the current problem of rising healthcare costs. This randomly selected group reflects the diversity of perspectives and experiences within society and thus brings its own concerns and needs to the discussion.


Basic insurance, hospitals or coordination of care?


During the opening weekend, participants will receive a comprehensive overview of the
functioning and objectives of the Citizens’ Assembly. In addition to getting to know each other and
familiarising themselves with the topic of ‘rising healthcare costs’, participants will define a
focus for further discussions. The aim is to narrow down the topic and determining what is particularly relevant to the People’s Council – for example, basic insurance, hospitals, volume expansion, coordination of care, or health promotion and prevention.


New impetus in health policy


The research project investigates whether citizens‘ assemblies are suitable for conducting important social debates. Particularly in the field of health policy, where political decision-making often stagnates, citizens’ assemblies could provide new impetus. The topics for the citizens’ assembly were selected in a transparent and broadly supported process, which identified healthcare costs as a particularly urgent issue.

Prof. Dr. Daniel Kübler, co-initiator at the University of Zurich, says: «With the People’s Council,
we are creating a space where the population can directly express their views on socially important issues. In health policy in particular, we need solutions that take into account the interests and concerns of citizens.»


Citizens’ Assembly drafts final report with reform proposals


Participant and mother of two Anaïs Zingg (30) from Zuzwil in the canton of St. Gallen is excited:
«I’m looking forward to discussing rising healthcare costs with people from all over Switzerland.
It’s an issue that affects us all. Hopefully, we can make a difference as a People’s Council.»

The Citizens’ Assembly will present its findings in spring 2025. A final report is intended to form the basis for an objective, public debate and provide policymakers with a differentiated picture of opinions. In it, the Citizens’ Assembly will prepare arguments for various reform proposals and take a position on them.

This form of participation creates new spaces for social debates, strengthening the quality of public opinion formation and debate culture. This could be significant not only in health policy, but also in other areas of society.

Further information: www.pnyx25.uzh.ch

Photos of the opening weekend: https://www.flickr.com/gp/200893765@N03/77z6315bw6
(are continuously updated on the weekend)

Contact: