Switzerland

The vote that lifted Switzerland's post-Fukushima nuclear ban came down to 100-98 in the lower house, an indirect counterproposal to the 'Blackout Initiative'. Nothing gets built yet. The repeal still has to clear a mandatory popular referendum.

A Swiss voter laid out why it matters anyway: 50% of the country's energy is still oil and gas, two-thirds of its electricity is hydro fed by glaciers that are melting, and prices are 'sky-high'. The thread's sharper economists fired back that wind and solar already beat nuclear on cost.

Switzerland sits at 9.1 million people. The rejected initiative, from the right-wing SVP, would have forced measures — up to ending EU free movement — if the country hit 9.5 million before 2050. Voters said no by 54.8% to 45.2% on 58% turnout.

Swiss commenters flagged the real mechanics: this needed a 'double majority' of people AND cantons, and it failed both. A precedent looms — a 2014 immigration initiative passed and parliament quietly declined to implement it.