RSF - Reporters sans frontières

03/09/2026 | Press release | Archived content

Swiss voters reject the “200 francs is enough” initiative: an encouraging sign for journalism and public service broadcasting

A clear majority of voters (61.95%) rejected the so-called "200 francs is enough" initiative seeking to reduce the Swiss broadcasting licence fee from 335 CHF to 200 CHF on Sunday 8 March. The drastic reduction of the licence fee to the detriment of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SSR) will therefore not take place. At a time when political pressure on public service broadcasters is increasing in many European countries, the Swiss vote is a striking illustration of the population's attachment to the values of public service: reliable, pluralist and independent information that serves citizens and democracy.

"RSF Switzerland welcomes this very clear result, well beyond what the polls had suggested. This vote shows that citizens value the continued provision of the SSR's services and generally consider them relevant, and that the insulting and unconvincing criticism levelled at the broadcaster clearly failed to convince the public. It is a positive signal for journalism, the media and democracy, which needs strong, independent and critical media outlets in order to function at its best. The over 600 million CHF that a 'yes' vote on the initiative would have taken away from the SSR each year would have been a fatal blow to journalism, information and culture in Switzerland. It is therefore a very significant victory for citizens' right to access reliable information and a meaningful cultural offering. At a time when political pressure on public service broadcasters is increasing in many European countries, the Swiss vote is a striking demonstration of the population's attachment to the public service values enshrined in the Constitution: reliable, pluralistic and independent information that serves citizens and democracy.

Denis Masmejan,
Secretary General of RSF Switzerland

RSF actively campaigned against this initiative, alongside numerous other media, political and civil society actors. This broad alliance, supported by a majority of voters, helped ensure the rejection of the initiative. RSF notably organised a press conference in Genevaon 13 February to underline its commitment to protecting public service media in Switzerland.

For the NGO, Sunday's vote carries particular significance because of the message it sends to countries across Europe and the rest of the world where public service broadcasting is facing attacks very similar to those directed at the SSR. In Czechia, Lithuania, Poland, the United Kingdom and France alike, public media funding is at the heart of political debates. RSF recently raised the alarm about this situation in the report Pressure on public media: a decisive test for European democracies.

Despite the rejection of the initiative, the debate over the scope and content of the SSR's serviceswill not disappear. Such a debate is both important and legitimate and has its place in a democracy. However, RSF calls for this discussion to take place in a calm and constructive manner, and for certain political actors to put an end to their constant criticism of the SSR- criticism that undermines the independence of public service broadcasting from political power.

Published on09.03.2026
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