GENEVA, Oct 5 — Switzerland looks on course Monday to hold a referendum on a trade deal with Malaysia, with opponents believing the agreement endangers tropical rainforests and lacks proper safeguards against forced labour.
Campaigners handed in 85,000 signatures at the parliament buildings in the Swiss capital Bern on Monday, public broadcaster RTS said.
To trigger a referendum under Switzerland’s direct democracy system, 50,000 valid signatures must be collected within 100 days of publication of a new law. The Swiss parliament completed its approval of the trade deal in June.
The authorities will now have to verify the signatures.
If approved, the referendum would likely go ahead in the first half of 2027.
