In Moutier, "Bernxit" prevails after all the suspense

The federal government sent 10 staff to monitor the counting

(swissinfo.ch)

In an historic vote that put an end to one of the oldest political conflicts in Switzerland, the western French-speaking town of Moutier narrowly voted "yes" on Sunday to leave the canton of Bern, Switzerland's largest, and join the canton of Jura.

The citizens of this working-class municipality of 7,700 made their decision by a margin of only 51.7% in favor of the move: 2,067 for leaving Bern and joining Jura, 1,930 votes opposed. The closely-watched vote counting made for a suspenseful afternoon, with the results coming more than two hours later than expected.

The stakes involved in the elections and a very high turnout - almost 90%, more than twice the usual rate in Switzerland - forced the 32 employees of the polling station to do some recounting to avoid any challenge to the result. Less than a dozen contentious cases - deceased persons, for example, in the register of voters - were recorded.

«One of the happiest days of my life»

After an unbearable delay, the pro-Jurassian militants, gathered by thousands in the Place de la Moutier station, were able to let their joy burst forth. Among them was the mayor, Marcel Winistoerfer, who struggled to hide his emotions. "This is one of the happiest days of my life, quite simply. The suspense lasted for a while but it's good to have done things methodically to avoid any problems," he told swissinfo.ch.

Marcel Winistoerfer was also confident about how things would play out after the voting. "We are not afraid of the reaction of the losers (pro-Bernese). When the emotions have subsided, I am sure we will be able to get around the table to find constructive solutions," he said.

The day of voting in Moutier was a far cry from the explosive atmosphere during the voting on a similar measure on September 7, 1975, when the town refused for the third time in a row, by 54.1%, to join the new canton of Jura. At that time, the separatists had taken to the streets to face the pro-Bernese contingent, in a conflict that had deeply divided the region into two nearly irreconcilable camps.

Tense, but also a lighter touch

In this latest voting, the mood was anything but hostile. By contrast, a multicolored and festive crowd took over the streets by mid-day. During the campaign, those who favored leaving Bern had focused on "positive and relaxed" communication, including humorous clips played on social networks.

The most virulent attacks were seen on the Facebook pages of various campaign committees, but also in the correspondence of the readers of the two regional daily newspapers, the Journal du Jura (pro-Bernese) and the Jurassian newspaper.

But the Bernese and Jura governments bear some responsibility for the tensions that marked the last weeks of the campaign. In a television documentary, Jurassic Minister Charles Juillard said that in the event of a "yes" to Moutier, it will be time to convince the inhabitants of Roches, a small town between Moutier and the canton of Jura, to join the canton of Jura. His words sparked an outcry in the Bernese camp, since they contravene the commitments made by the Jurassic government.

No big problems

On the Jura side, the Bern administration was not at all appreciated, but its campaign underestimated the taxes paid by Moutier to the canton of Bern, and the campaign also focused heavily on the future of the Moutier hospital, breaking the commitment of both parties not to make it an issue of this vote.

Despite these polemics, the campaign did not give rise to major problems or bad feeligns. No serious incidents were reported and no criminal charges were filed for acts of vandalism related to the voting.

Two centuries of the Jurassic question

1815: At the fall of Napoleon, the Congress of Vienna attributes the seven districts of the Jura to the canton of Bern.

1950s: The rise of the separatist movement.

1974-75: The Jura is divided, the three districts in the north form the new canton, the southern three remain Bernese, and Laufon will join Basel-Country in the 90s. In Moutier, the decision to remain Bernese is 70 votes apart.

1979: Entry into sovereignty of the canton of Jura, after a vote of the whole of Switzerland, which accepts its creation at 82%.

1994: Establishment of the Interjurassian Assembly (AIJ), an institution of reconciliation, under the aegis of the federal government and cantons of Jura and Bern.

1998: The commune of Moutier organizes an advisory vote on its attachment to the Jura, which is refused by a margin of 41 votes.

November 24, 2013: At 72%, citizens of the Bernese Jura and Jura refuse to initiate a process to bring the two regions together in the same canton. In Moutier, the Jura supporters won for the first time, with 389 votes.

June 18, 2017: Moutier votes to attach itself to the canton of Jura. In principle, for the last time.

swissinfo.ch