smartspider

The smartspider is a visualization of eight thematic ratings. The eight ratings are oriented towards central topics of Swiss politics. The calculation of positions on these axes is based on the answers to the smartvote questionnaire. For this purpose, questions are generally assigned to one or more axes and a rating is calculated. Individual questions are not assigned to any axis.

A value between 0 and 100 can be reached per axis. A value of 100 indicates strong agreement with the formulated goal of the axis. A value of 0 means that the formulated goal receives no agreement. Any weighting of individual questions has no influence on the calculation of the smartspider graphics. The following documents contain, on the one hand, a detailed methodological description of the smartspider calculation and, on the other hand, a list showing the assignment of smartvote questions to the eight smartspider axes.

Method description: smartspider (in German)

Methodology description: smartspider (PDF)

Open foreign policy

Approval leads to outward shift of the axis value

• Should the Federal Council be allowed to authorize other states to re-export Swiss weapons in cases of a war of aggression in violation of international law (e.g., the attack on Ukraine)? [BePart question]
• Are you in favor of closer relations with the European Union (EU)?
• Should Switzerland strive for a comprehensive free trade agreement (including agriculture) with the USA?
• Should the federal government spend more or less in the area of "Development assistance"?
• Should the Swiss Armed Forces expand their cooperation with NATO?

Rejection leads to outward shift of the axis value

• Should Switzerland terminate the Bilateral Agreements with the EU and seek a free trade agreement without the free movement of persons?
• Should Switzerland terminate the Schengen agreement with the EU and reintroduce more security checks directly on the border? [BePart question]
• Should Switzerland return to a strict interpretation of neutrality (renounce economic sanctions to a large extent)? [BePart question]

Liberal economy

Approval leads to outward shift of the axis value

• Should housing construction regulations be relaxed (e.g., noise protection, occupancy rates)?
• Should private households be free to choose their electricity supplier (complete liberalization of the electricity market)?
• To achieve climate targets, should incentives and target agreements be relied on exclusively, rather than bans and restrictions?
• Should the construction of new nuclear power plants in Switzerland be allowed again?
• Should Switzerland strive for a comprehensive free trade agreement (including agriculture) with the USA?
• What is your position the following statement: "In the long term, everyone benefits from a free market economy in the long term."
• Should the Federal Council's ability to restrict private and economic life in the event of a pandemic be more limited?

Rejection leads to outward shift of the axis value

• Are you in favor of the introduction of a tax on foods containing sugar (sugar tax)?
• What is your position the following statement: "Stronger environmental protection is necessary, even if its application limits economic growth."
• Should Swiss companies be obliged to ensure that their subsidiaries and suppliers operating abroad comply with social and environmental standards?
• Should Switzerland terminate the Bilateral Agreements with the EU and seek a free trade agreement without the free movement of persons?
• Are you in favour of government measures to make the use of electronic devices more sustainable (e.g., right to repair, extension of warranty period, minimum guaranteed period for software updates)? [BePart question]
• Do you support stricter regulations for the financial sector (e.g., stricter capital requirements for banks, ban on bonuses)?
• Should Switzerland ban the registration of new passenger cars with internal combustion engines starting in 2035?
• Would you support a ban on single-use plastic and non-recyclable plastics? [BePart question]
• Should the federal government spend more or less in the area of "Agriculture"?
• Are you in favor of stronger regulation of the major Internet platforms (i.e., transparency rules on algorithms, increased liability for content, combating disinformation)?
• Are you in favor of stricter controls on equal pay for women and men?
• Are you in favor of introducing a minimum wage of CHF 4,000 for all full-time employees?

Restrictive financial policy

Approval leads to outward shift of the axis value

• Should it be possible to hold a referendum on federal spending above a certain amount (optional financial referendum)?
• Do you support tax cuts at the federal level over the next four years?

Rejection leads to outward shift of the axis value

• Should the differences between cantons with high and low financial capacity be further reduced through fiscal equalization?
• Should the federal government spend more or less in the area of "Public security"?
• Should the state guarantee a comprehensive public service offering also in rural regions?
• What is your position the following statement: "It is necessary for the State to balance out differences in income and wealth through redistribution".
• Should the federal government provide more financial support for public housing construction? [BePart question]
• Should the federal government spend more or less in the area of "Education and research"?
• Should the federal government spend more or less in the area of "Road traffic (motorised individual transport)"?
• Should the federal government spend more or less in the area of "National defence"?
• Should the federal government spend more or less in the area of "Public transport"?
• Should the federal government allocate more funding for health insurance premium subsidies?
• Should the federal government spend more or less in the area of "Social services"?
• Would you support the introduction of a national inheritance tax on all inheritances over one million Swiss francs? [BePart question]
• Should the federal government spend more or less in the area of "Agriculture"?
• Should the federal government spend more or less in the area of "Development assistance"?

Law & order

Approval leads to outward shift of the axis value

• Are you in favor of expanding the army's target number of soldiers to at least 120,000?
• What is your position the following statement: "Someone who is not guilty, has nothing to fear from state security measures."
• What is your position the following statement: "Punishing criminals is more important than reintegrating them into society."
• Should Switzerland terminate the Schengen agreement with the EU and reintroduce more security checks directly on the border? [BePart question]
• Should the federal government spend more or less in the area of "National defence"?
• Should the federal government spend more or less in the area of "Public security"?

Rejection leads to outward shift of the axis value

• Should cannabis use be legalized? [BePart question]
• Should automatic facial recognition be banned in public spaces?

Restrictive immigration policy

Approval leads to outward shift of the axis value

• Should Switzerland terminate the Schengen agreement with the EU and reintroduce more security checks directly on the border? [BePart question]
• Should Switzerland terminate the Bilateral Agreements with the EU and seek a free trade agreement without the free movement of persons?
• Do you support efforts to house asylum seekers in centers outside Europe during the asylum procedure?

Rejection leads to outward shift of the axis value

• Should foreign nationals who have lived in Switzerland for at least ten years be granted the right to vote and stand for election at the municipal level?
• Should the conditions for naturalization be relaxed (e.g., shorter residence period)?
• Should more qualified workers from non-EU/EFTA countries be allowed to work in Switzerland (increase third-country quota)?

Extended environmental protection

Approval leads to outward shift of the axis value

• What is your position the following statement: "Stronger environmental protection is necessary, even if its application limits economic growth."
• Are you in favour of stricter animal welfare regulations for livestock (e.g. permanent access to outdoor areas)?
• Would you support a ban on single-use plastic and non-recyclable plastics? [BePart question]
• Should Switzerland ban the registration of new passenger cars with internal combustion engines starting in 2035?
• Would you be in favor of the introduction of increasing electricity tariffs when consumption is higher (progressive electricity tariffs)?
• Should 30% of Switzerland's land area be dedicated to preserving biodiversity? [BePart question]
• Should the federal government spend more or less in the area of "Public transport"?
• Should direct payments only be granted to farmers with proof of ecological performance?
• Should Swiss companies be obliged to ensure that their subsidiaries and suppliers operating abroad comply with social and environmental standards?
• Are you in favour of government measures to make the use of electronic devices more sustainable (e.g., right to repair, extension of warranty period, minimum guaranteed period for software updates)? [BePart question]

Rejection leads to outward shift of the axis value

• Should busy sections of highways be widened?
• Are you in favor of further relaxing the protection regulations for large predators (lynx, wolf, bear)?
• Should the federal government spend more or less in the area of "Road traffic (motorised individual transport)"?

Expanded welfare state

Approval leads to outward shift of the axis value

• Should the federal government spend more or less in the area of "Social services"?
• Should paid parental leave be increased beyond today's 14 weeks of maternity leave and two weeks of paternity leave? [BePart question]
• Should the federal government provide more financial support for public housing construction? [BePart question]
• Should the state be more committed to equal educational opportunities (e.g., through subsidized remedial courses for students from low-income families)?
• What is your position the following statement: "It is necessary for the State to balance out differences in income and wealth through redistribution".
• For married couples, the pension is currently limited to 150% of the maximum individual AHV pension (capping). Should this limit be eliminated?
• Should the federal government allocate more funding for health insurance premium subsidies?

Rejection leads to outward shift of the axis value

• As part of the reform of the BVG (occupational pension plan), pensions are to be reduced (lowering the minimum conversion rate from 6.8% to 6%). Are you in favor of this measure?
• Do you support an increase in the retirement age (e.g., to 67)?
• Should insured persons contribute more to health care costs (e.g., increase the minimum deductible)?

Liberal society

Approval leads to outward shift of the axis value

• According to the Swiss integrated schooling concept, children with learning difficulties or disabilities should be taught in regular classes. Do you approve of this concept?
• Should cannabis use be legalized? [BePart question]
• Should married couples be taxed separately (individual taxation)? [BePart question]
• Should automatic facial recognition be banned in public spaces?
• Should the Federal Council's ability to restrict private and economic life in the event of a pandemic be more limited?
• Would you be in favour of doctors being allowed to administer direct active euthanasia in Switzerland?
• Do you think it's right for same-sex couples to have the same rights as heterosexual couples in all areas?
• Should foreign nationals who have lived in Switzerland for at least ten years be granted the right to vote and stand for election at the municipal level?
• Should a third official gender be introduced alongside "female" and "male"?

Rejection leads to outward shift of the axis value

• What is your position the following statement: "Punishing criminals is more important than reintegrating them into society."
• What is your position the following statement: "Someone who is not guilty, has nothing to fear from state security measures."
• Should compulsory vaccination of children be introduced based on the Swiss vaccination plan?
• What is your position the following statement: "It is best for a child, when one parent stays home full-time for childcare."