Referendum Rejects Scrapping Of Radio/TV License; Minors, Foreigners Denied Voting Rights; Basel Boasts Best Beat Boxer Battle; Schwingfest Coming To Pratteln

News For 6 March 2018

In a strong turnout of over 71%, voters on Sunday rejected the "No Billag" referendum which would have seen household TV and Radio license taxes scrapped.  The referendum raised serious and loud debate amongst Swiss voters.  The license fees paid by households are compulsory and support public television and radio.

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In other referendum items considered by Basel-area voters on Sunday, two initiatives to allow 16- and 17-year olds, as well as foreigners voting rights were rejected. Sliding the voting age down to 16 lost by 84.5 percent or 80,364 to 14,798 votes. The right for foreigners to vote was rejected by 81.1 percent or 76,302 to 17,776 votes. Voter turnout was 51 percent. These initiatives are not without precedent. Currently 16- to 18-year-olds are allowed to participate in political votes in the Canton of Glarus. Foreigners in the cantons Neuchatel and Jura have a passive right to vote, to vote at the cantonal level and in several cantons at the municipal level.

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The Basel Bscene music festival opens this Friday with the Grand Beatbox Battle headliner event.  French YouTube sensation MB14 and beatbox legend Rahzel will showcase their talents in the opening acts.  The Grand Beatbox Battle celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, and has already managed to gain global fame.  Hosting the main headliners will be the Volkshaus starting at 9:30 Friday night.  

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The Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Festival will take place in Pratteln in 2022.

Known as “Schwingfest,” it has been around since the end of the 19th century and attracts upward of a quarter of a million people during the three-day festival. It is Switzerland’s biggest sporting event.

What is it? In French the sport translates to “battle in shorts” due to the special shorts worn by the competitors. The battle takes place in a circular sawdust ring and the objective is to lift your opponent off his feet and pin him to his back on the ground, all the while keeping a firm grip on his shorts. The winner is chosen by a three-person jury.

Swiss wrestling is an ancient contest that has been around since the 13th century. Originally the sport was practiced by farmers in Alpine areas. After practically disappearing, Swiss wrestling returned to popularity in the 19th century and became a Swiss national sport, in conjunction with the development of patriotism in Switzerland, which became a federal state in 1848.
  

Zug will host the 2019 festival.