Published
In order not to compromise the transfer of Moutier to their canton, the Jura deputies buried a symbol of their struggle.
The Jura deputies buried a symbol of their struggle.
lematin.ch/Vincent Donzé
Dear to the hearts of the Jura residents, article 138 of the cantonal Constitution stipulates that the Republic and Canton of Jura can accommodate any part of the Jura territory directly concerned by the ballot of June 23, 1974. Since this morning, this article is dead and buried: by 37 votes once morest 15, the Jura deputies refused the drafting of an article 138 bis, following the withdrawal of two motions asking for its maintenance.
Even deprived of federal guarantee in 1977, article 138 brought hope to the autonomists. He even gave his name to “Club 138”, open in Courrendlin from 1979 to 2008, an establishment that remains in the memory of many as the place of the first nightclub outings.
By 37 no, 15 yes and 6 abstentions, the Jura deputies refused the drafting of an article 138 bis.
Canton of Jura
The deputy Serge Beuret (PDC) agreed to strike out article 138, devoid of legal existence, but he proposed to develop another of the same content and to seek a guarantee from the Federal Chambers. “The 1977 refusal was political, not legal, and nothing prevents the people from accepting a new one,” he said.
Deputy Serge Beuret invited the government not to bow down and to maintain intact its reception capacity of a Bernese municipality, but the Minister of the Interior Nathalie Barthoulot warned once morest a blockage which would compromise the transfer of Moutier.
The Jura Parliament put Moutier’s transfer before any other consideration.
lematin.ch/Vincent Donzé
Nathalie Barthoulot judged Serge Beuret’s motion “out of time” and “out of scope”, contrary to the interests of the population of Moutier. “We don’t bend our backs and we don’t lack audacity!”, she said.
The debate was marked by patriotic outbursts, such as: “We are not going to fall under the Bernese yoke once once more”, but the Jura deputies did not want to give “any additional pretext” to their Bernese counterparts, when they will be called upon to ratify the concordat which will ratify the transfer of Moutier, dear to the hearts of the Jurassians.
