Democracy... but not as we know it

They say that Switzerland is the world's most democratic nation. Well they do have seven prime ministers! Every bit of legislation is sent to public referendum and most things takes longer than elephant pregnancy. I'm starting to wonder if it's allowed to sneeze without first putting it to the people.

For all my jesting though, today proved the system is there for a reason.

At recent elections the far right party took a majority of 29%, but not enough to form a government. When they were confirming the prime ministers though, all other parties rejected the far right controversial leader, Christoph Blocher, and he was ousted from taking power. If this seems complicated, don't worry, no one here seems to understand the system either.

It doesn't sound too democratic when the person chosen by the people is not allowed to take government, but this is to prevent extremism and political fads, whipped up by charismatic but small minded people, praying on peoples insecurities.

Today proved that democracy works. Most of Switzerland breathed a very large collective sigh or relief.