The Geneva Citizens' Movement (French: Mouvement Citoyens Genevois), abbreviated to MCG, is a right-wing populist[3][4]political party in the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland. On its own initiative, it started, and is a part of, the wider Romandy Citizens' Movement (French: Mouvement Citoyens Romand), abbreviated to MCR.
In 2010, the MCG formed a wider party organization with chapters throughout the cantons of Romandy, called the Mouvement Citoyen Romand (MCR).[6][7] However, only the Geneva chapter has seen real success.
The MCG made large gains in the March 2011 cantonal local elections, helping end a 20-year-old majority by left-of-center parties in the parliament of the city of Geneva.[8]
In 2013, the MCG further increased its share in the Grand Council of Geneva to 20 seats.[9] In addition, it gained a seat in the Council of State of Geneva, the executive organ of the canton, with Mauro Poggia taking the seat.[3]
The MCG campaigns on a platform of opposition to established party politics (classe politique)[4] and to the 65,000 cross-border commuters from France,[16] calling for the priority allocation of jobs to Swiss citizens.[17] The MCG takes eurosceptic or nationalist positions, such as supporting the preeminence of Swiss law before international law, opposing the bilateral accords with the European Union, and supporting reducing immigration.[18][7] In addition, it supported a strict implementation of the 2014 Swiss immigration referendum, which aimed to limit immigration through quotas.[18]
As of 2015, the MCG supports increased funding for renewable energies.[18] It believes more controls on social welfare are needed, but it does not support reducing benefits in order to reduce costs, preferring "a general reform of the system and not ineffective half-measures."[18] As of 2015, the MCG supports registered partnerships for same-sex couples but opposes full legalization.[18]
^Baertschi, François (April 20, 2010). "Le MCR est né". mcge.ch (in French). Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2016.