Lets Go to Swiss

Swiss President Doris Leuthard visited Indonesia. In that state visit, take a number of senior state officials and top businessmen. They will visit a number of projects in Jakarta and Surabaya. Although renowned as a rich country, they simply fly commercial. No need to rent, let alone buy his own plane. Famous Swiss people are very efficient.

Indeed, when I arrived in Switzerland in March, as a former journalist and member of Parliament, my attention was immediately drawn to the issue of political system in Switzerland, especially the parliament. Of course this is associated with all kinds of hustle and bustle in the House. Including, a rather odd suggestion: ask for the constituency fund of Rp 15 billion per member.

Prior to Switzerland, my understanding of democracy is only two. Namely, the Westminster-style parliamentary system in Britain or the presidential system in the United States. But, now I need a correction because there is no system of direct democracy or Swiss-style direct democracy.

System of direct democracy has a long tradition and at least in the Swiss constitution in 1849 is being included. The core system is sovereignty in the hands of the people and exercised by the people. In such systems, all government policies that affect the livelihood of many people could be canceled if not supported by the majority of the people through referendum mechanism.

For example, when the Swiss decided to become a member of the United Nations, were about to disband the army, and finally of course a matter of minarets. The referendum initiative could come from government and the people. Every Swiss citizen entitled to submit a referendum to overturn parliamentary decisions, provided that can mengumpullan 50,000 supporting signatures within 100 days since the Act was passed parliament.

For example, the Swiss parliament and the government decided the construction of nuclear power plants (NPP). If there are people who do not agree, they can cancel the referendum mechanism.

Because of a law or regulation can be undone through a referendum, parliament and government are not reckless in making decisions. As a result, decision-making of a law is very slow because it must consider the suggestions and opinions from many parties, especially the stakeholders.

Swiss Parliament is an institution that is trusted community. Why so? One reason, Swiss lawmakers are not too greedy with money and facilities. They remain unpaid and receive no pension from the office. Therefore, it feels very strange if there were members of the House are up to ask for rations Rp 15 billion, though the pretext for their constituents.

Indeed, a member of parliament in Switzerland is a devotion. Not to seek employment.Despite not receiving a salary, lawmakers there to receive transportation assistance, rent a hotel or apartment, as well as secretarial assistance or business office in a year whose number is only about $ 100,000. That number seems a lot. But, if compared to income per capita of USD 64,000 Swiss people, that number is relatively normal.

Embassy in Bern political staff recently made a comparative study of Indonesia. Members of Parliament receive salaries and facilities in a year reached USD 1.5 billion or nearly USD 150,000. It’s obviously very high. The amount is, for many, considered surprising because the facility is given to members that people only earn USD 2,300 per year.

If the minimum wage than in Switzerland, Swiss parliamentarians on average only receive four times the average wage. Because, UMR 3300 Switzerland is the Swiss franc. If lawmakers want to emulate such as salaries or facilities in Switzerland, they should only receive around Rp 6 million. With “normal” of his salary or facility member of the House, not many complaints against them. By contrast, in Indonesia, decent people get angry if their performance is very poor because of salary and DPR facility about 100 times more than the average wage.

In Switzerland, not just members of Parliament who lived reasonably. For example, everywhere by tram, bus, or train which is known exactly to schedule. The ministers had a normal life. Because it is not surprising, occasionally we see ministers who are waiting for a bus or tram. Not long ago, I met an official of ministerial-level state of the environment.He was astonished when I asked about his official car. For him, do not need a car because everywhere can ride public transportation or even riding a bike alone.

Swiss citizens are very concerned about the environment so that electricity can be produced only by water or nuclear power. Coal and other energy sources that damage the environment is strictly prohibited. Due to efficient and timely transportation, are very rare Swiss people who use personal vehicles. Private cars are only used at weekends.

Switzerland is also famous for productive and efficient. No wonder, with a population of 7.7 million people, they can export nearly $ 200 billion per year. Compare with Indonesia with a population of 230 million is only exported about USD 120 billion. Obviously, we lost productive of Swiss citizens. Therefore, it is time we need to learn to Switzerland, a small country but beautiful and productive.