They will soon be able to slip a bulletin into the ballot box for the first time. More than 1,000 citizens of Moutier of foreign origin will have the possibility of voting in October. With the transfer of the city to the Jura, they will, in fact, be able to participate in the cantonal (except constitutional objects) and commune polls, but also present themselves to the elections for the city council and the municipal council (except the headquarters of mayor). An information session was organized on Monday evening for the people concerned. The fifty citizens present was also able to participate in a practical workshop. “Voting is a great philosophical principle, but concretely when you receive your equipment, it is never simple for anyone,” explains Valentin Zuber, the president of the Delegation for Jura Affairs for the Municipal Council.
José Costa Mendes, representative of the Portuguese community within the Moutier integration committee, notably participated in the meeting. “When we pay our taxes and make our lives here, I think we have something to say for the city,” he says. An opinion shared by Awara, which comes from Kurdistan and has lived for several years in the provost city. “This right to be recognized, understood and considered is something that allows a stranger to feel really involved in everyday life,” he said.
People of foreign origins who meet the conditions will be able to vote in the Jura cantonal elections scheduled for October 19. /alr
