Today November 8, 2013, the Federal Chancellery of Switzerland announced that the citizen’s initiative for an Unconditional Basic Income has been formally accepted. It stated that after the validation of the signatures on 4 October, 126,408 valid signatures were submitted. Thus, the Federal Chancellery of Switzerland confirms formally: There will be a national referendum on Unconditional Basic Income.

What's next now? The Federal Council will consider Basic Income and prepare a report on it. This will take about one year. Afterwards there will be a debate in the parliament. The national referendum will follow in two to three years.

The question is: Should each person in the country receive the financial basis for a living unconditionally?

Enno Schmidt & Daniel Straub