ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

2014 Swiss referendums

In 2014, the people of Switzerland had some important decisions to make. A referendum is like a big vote where everyone gets to say what they think about a particular topic. It's like when you and your friends vote on what game to play, but on a much bigger scale.

One of the big decisions the Swiss had to make was about their immigration policy. Immigration means people moving from one country to another to live there. Some people in Switzerland were worried that too many immigrants were coming into their country and that it was causing problems like overcrowding, job shortages, and social tension.

So they had a referendum to decide whether or not to limit the number of foreigners who could come to Switzerland to live and work. This means that Switzerland would only allow a certain number of people to move there each year. Some people thought this was a good idea because it would help to control the number of people living in Switzerland and create more job opportunities for Swiss citizens. Other people thought it was a bad idea because it would limit freedom and discriminate against foreigners.

In the end, the referendum passed with over 50% of voters supporting the idea of limiting immigration to Switzerland. This means that Swiss authorities now have the power to restrict the number of people allowed to move to Switzerland.

Another big decision the Swiss had to make was about the amount of money the country should keep in reserve in case of emergencies. It's like when you save money in your piggy bank for a rainy day. The Swiss were asked whether or not they thought the government should keep at least 20% of its annual income in a special savings account as a safety net. This would help to protect the country from unexpected expenses like natural disasters or economic downturns.

Most people in Switzerland agreed that this was a good idea, so the referendum passed with over 70% of voters in favor of the proposal. This means that the Swiss government now has a safety net to fall back on in case the country faces difficult times.

Overall, the 2014 Swiss Referendums were a way for the Swiss people to have their say on some very important issues affecting their country. They had to think carefully about the pros and cons of each proposal and decide which option was best for their future.