Mountain dwellers versus eco-freaks

On March 11 2012, Switzerland’s initiative populaire “To put a stop to the invasive spread of second homes” was accepted by 50.6% of the Swiss population. This initiative was launched in 2006 by the Franz Weber Foundation to limit the number of second homes to 20% of the total housing stock in each of the Swiss communes. Acceptance of the initiative was a surprise in that it had met with considerable opposition: apart from the Parliament – the National Council and the Council of the States –...