Neil Petrie, a retired intelligence officer advocates for direct democracy. To start the discuassion Neil will present a solution rooted in the Swiss hybrid model, which empowers citizens through a combination of representative and direct democracy. While elected representatives in the Federal Assembly and Federal Council handle day-to-day governance, citizens retain the right to intervene directly in legislation and constitutional matters through three main instruments: the popular initiative, the optional referendum, and the mandatory referendum

Drawing on the success of the Swiss system, which has thrived for over 175 years and consistently ranks highest in global wellbeing surveys, Petrie argues that giving citizens the final say on laws and policies leads to greater societal prosperity and satisfaction. He emphasizes the need for political reform and the election of leaders who support this hybrid approach, asserting that the West’s salvation lies just one vote away.