Bern’s Council Rejects Honoring 1653 Peasant Rebels in Historic Vote

A divisive vote seals the fate of forgotten rebels. Historians clash with officials over whether their struggle deserves a place in Switzerland’s history.

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2025 November 24 . 9:24 PM

1 min read

In this picture I can see the poster which is placed on the table or wall. In the poster I can see... — In this picture I can see the poster which is placed on the table or wall. In the poster I can see some people were doing the march by holding the posters. At the top I can see the cartoons of the devils.

Bern’s Council Rejects Honoring 1653 Peasant Rebels in Historic Vote

Bern’s Grand Council has rejected a proposal to symbolically rehabilitate the 1653 peasant rebels. The motion, backed only by the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) and the Federal Democratic Union (EDU), failed with 99 votes against and 51 in favour. Officials also dismissed plans for a memorial site or commemorative events.

The debate began after the Bern Historical Museum and local historians supported the idea of recognizing the peasant rebels' history. Supporters argued for symbolic rehabilitation to acknowledge the uprising's historical significance. However, the Government Council opposed the move, calling it unnecessary and inappropriate.

The rejection means no official recognition or memorial will be established for the 1653 peasant rebels. The decision follows the council’s policy of focusing on major anniversaries and existing historical sites. The Bernese Reformation’s 500th anniversary remains the next key commemorative event.