Which way to vote? The political parties give their views
- Catherine
- Mar 7, 2011
- 8 min read
Which path to take? Should you go left, right, through the centre, on the green grass or take the independent route?
With the local elections just under a week away, Living in Nyon asked all the political parties to send in their views and standpoint on local issues. So if you have received your voting papers and are still unsure of who to vote for, then read on to hear the views from the following parties that sent their comments in.
Please note however, this post is provided purely as public service information for the expat community and does not imply endorsement of the parties' views by Living in Nyon. If you are unsure about the actual voting procedure then this previous post on how to fill out (the rather complicated forms!) should help you.
The PIN is a Nyon-based party founded over 60 years ago. We are currently represented by 13 city councillors (i.e. 13%) and 1 member of the city government (Claude Uldry, responsible for buildings, human resources and church affairs). Non-ideological and solutions-oriented, we defend the quality of life in Nyon on the basis of specific projects, whether proposed by our own members, the city government or others. Sitting astride the Left-Right divide in the city council, we often are the de-factor arbiters of the outcome of closely-contested votes. Our councilors -men and women from all walks of life -enjoy complete freedom to take the floor during council debates and to vote as they choose. Our priorities for the coming legislature (2011 – 2016) are 1)
: Find creative solutions to Nyon’s housing shortage. The adult children of Nyon families who want to stay here should be able to find affordable housing. The city may ultimately have to choose between “nice-to-haves” (such as a conference center-hotel complex near the train station) and “must-haves” (such as affordable housing). Watch this space! 2)
: Keep Nyon from becoming the victim of its own success. Fight urban sprawl and the creation of ghettos of high-priced condos before it’s too late. Clean up the mess around the train station. 3)
: Solve Nyon’s traffic problem, which is becoming big city-like. This will require some courageous decisions (including building new roads) and incentivizing commuters to using (to-be-improved) public transport. 4)
: People should be able to go anywhere in Nyon at any time of day or night without having to “watch their back”. The solution, we believe, lies in both prevention and appropriate police action, but also in giving speedy “feedback” to juvenile offenders (not currently the case). A recent visitor from New York, who was last here 4 years ago, told me “Nyon is looking a bit seedy these days”. Coming from a New Yorker, that has to hurt! 5)
: Sometimes it seems like everybody wants to move here. The diversity of our population is a plus for Nyon. Everybody needs to feel welcome, and that starts with feeling at home with the language and Swiss culture, values and institutions. Nyon’s many local sports and associations make a major contribution to this important effort, and deserve our support. More can be done, however.
6)
: We believe that the city of Nyon should be exemplary in its respect for the environment and use of energy. Claude Uldry has been working towards this goal in building and renovating municipal buildings.
For more information, please refer to our website (in French) , which also contains links to some recent TV debates in which we participated. Thanks for your interest in the Parti Indépendant Nyonnais. who can make the difference with new and fresh ideas !
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"The Social Democratic Party has a
k record of achieving its goals and aims on the issues it is concerned about. With a left wing majorityrepresentation in the Municipality, it has transformed the town by improving the quality of life of its inhabitants. It has achieved solidarity and a level of security and has adapted to the needs of the population with an improved public service benefitting not only the local population but also the economy and tourist industry.
With the upcoming renewal of the local authorities in next week's election, we are keen to continue with all the work we have initiated and to work on the challenges that awaiting us in the future. The Social Democrat party of Nyon has a list of candidates all of them with varied professional and social backgrounds, experiences, and areas of competence. Thanks to their convictions they will endeavour to place the following main points at the centre of their actions:
By building new housing at an affordable prices, improve the encounter of people in their neighbourhoods and ensuring a quality environment for the housing.
Improve transport public service and frequency, encourage and develop un-motorized mobility and moderating traffic in the neighbourhoods .
We find it important to invest for a town that is growing constantly, keeping in mind that the search for exterior funds and integrating Nyon in a regional investment policy is the way for our town to anticipate its development and not suffer from it.
In order to continue a strong and efficient family policy our party finds it important that additional capacity be added in nurseries, that there is increased possibilities of temporary assistance for those who need it careless of the age, and by the development of places for intergenerational encounters .
Reconquer the vacant parts town in order to give them life and create green public places of quality, creation of small gardens in neighbourhoods, as well as guaranteeing the protection and accessibility of all the lake shores in the town’s territory.
We find it important to think and act globally on the issue of security. We believe we not only have to use repressive measures but also improve prevention by hiring additional social workers and police forces in order to apprehend criminality, violence and incivilities. A better lighting of streets and renovation of decrepit places also collaborated to diminish the feeling of insecurity!"
Link to the party website
See also a short presentation movie in French of our candidates, programme and motivations here on U tube
List of candidates to the city council and the list of candidates to the municipality:
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We will continue to fight to build, as soon as possible, the two major roads that are planned - the inner ring road (la petite ceinture) and the urban service road (route de desserte urbaine (RDU)).
We oppose the suppression of parking spaces in the town centre in order that people may continue to park close to businesses and shops.
We intend to provide more sheltered housing for old people, through new constructions, to improve integration across all ages and social strata, that are the richness of our town.
We are against tax increases. We endorse change and propose to remove benefits that are not essential.
We will continue to support the police force and staff to improve efficiency.
We will continue to fight insecurity and depredation using dissuasive measures such as surveillance cameras and increased police checks at key locations.
We will fight to create opening hours of shops that reflect the needs of the working population.
We will support any plans to make Nyon a real conference town with hotels and the necessary infrastructure, because tourism creates jobs and wealth.
The full programme is posted on our website: www. plr-nyon.ch and may also be requested either by e‑mail info@plr-nyon.ch or to PLR, PO Box 1207, 1260 Nyon.
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"A town council can only achieve its aims through teamwork. But is it good to point out what each municipal has really achieved in their field during their period in office. After fewer than five years in service,
, in charge of Social Affairs, Education & Youth and Sport has fulfilled his promises to improve the quality of life in Nyon,
realised the following projects. See website.
Project on Respect: “working better together at school”
Harmonisation of school hours
Creation of 90 places for pre-school children, as well as lunch-break care for primary schoolchildren
Doubling of free sports activities for schoolchildren
Creation and extension of school libraries for teenagers
Planning and realisation of the day-care centre “Le Cèdre Magique” (48 places) and extension of the “Classes Tartines” (24 places)
Extension of network of “mamans de jours” (child minders) with an increase from 50’000 hours in 2006 to 180’000 hours in 2010
Creation of a network of crèches in Nyon and installation of one tariff structure
Opening of facilities in the evenings for free sport activities
Opening of an activity centre for young people during the holidays
Further development of activities for senior citizens with “Pro Senectute”
Improvement in quality of “Christmas baskets” with more local products
Start-up of “Quartier solidaire” (Neighbourhood Solidarity) in the north-east of Nyon
Creation of “integration platform” with Caritas and “Lire & Ecrire” for French lessons for foreigners and those with reading difficulties
Creation of Commission for Integration of Foreigners of Nyon (CISEN)
Opening of “Maison de quartier” (community place) in la Levratte
Creation of individual housing assistance policy (AIL)
Planning of 52 apartments for the elderly
Social housing (24 apartments at Chemin de Bourgogne and 10 at Promenade de Jura)
Creation of beach sports facilities at the lake-side
Installation of ice-skating rink
Creation of Nordic Walking course
Regionalisation of “Festival of sport”
Contract with UEFA for Colovray stadium which has resulted in yearly savings for Nyon of CHF 800'000
Increased financial aid to sport clubs in Nyon with 50%
Vote for Olivier Mayor and the Green Party so he and they can start and finish other projects to improve the quality of living in Nyon!"
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We need your vote ! In just about 3 weeks on 13 March 2011, the population of Nyon will elect its new members of the communal council. The 100 current members represent the entire political spectrum from left to right. For the first time, the emerging party of the Liberal Greens (Vert’Libéraux) contests this local election ready to go beyond the usual political divide !
The Vert’Libéraux see themselves as bridge-builders who are not saddled with political dogma and preconceived ideas and care more for concrete outcomes in the interest of all rather than ideological rigidity. The axes on which we build our pragmatic political platform are respect for the environment and respect for the human being . Our tenet sees the economy not as a problem, but as part of the solution to the questions of tomorrow’s world, and we look for the complimentarity between economic aspects and the need to ensure sustainable solutions for the environment.
Our social policies aim to assist the most vulnerable, without wanting to impose an absolute socio-economic parity. Each human being should find an active place in our society in respect and understanding of the individual responsibilities and accountabilities we all have. People that have immigrated are appreciated for their diverse and valuable contribution and renewal to society. We defend individual freedom but see the overall need to maintain social peace in the context of our occidental values. On our website (nyon.vertliberaux.ch), you can see how we break down this broader code of conduct into exciting new ideas and proposals for the town of Nyon. We are keen that the foreigners in Nyon - - who have the right to participate in local polls - - exercise their right to vote. If you are a foreigner, 18 years of age, currently residing in Nyon, have been living in the canton of Vaud for the last 3 years and have been in Switzerland for the last 10 years at least, you have the right and opportunity to vote. Hopefully you cast your vote for the Vert’Libéraux who can make the difference with new and fresh ideas!