Animals Get A Voice In Swiss Politics

(NewsCore) - Swiss animal lovers founded a political party to represent the interests of their four-legged friends, Swiss news agency ATS reported Sunday.

The Animal Party Switzerland was established Saturday with an economist, a lawyer and the head of the Swiss vegetarian union as founding members, said the agency, quoting Thomas Maerki, who heads the new party.

The party, which plans to contest elections next year, set up a Facebook page with the slogan "because animals need a voice" and pledged to "represent the interests of animals in politics and the economy."

Switzerland already boasts strict animal protection laws. It is illegal to dispose of live goldfish by flushing toilets, and owners of some animals must guarantee that the animals have social companions.

Even sheep and goats must have at least "visual contact with their fellows."

Earlier this year, enough signatures were collected to force a referendum on whether abused animals should be assigned lawyers. In the end, the initiative failed to muster a majority of votes.

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