After months of fierce debate, Switzerland looks set to reject the proposed ban on synthetic pesticides which has split farmers, citizens and politicians across the country.

On Sunday, Swiss voted on two anti-pesticides proposals as well as new anti-terror and COVID-19 laws. 

While final results are expected to be known by the end of the day, pollsters predict that as many as 61 percent voted against the new regulation outlawing man-made pesticides.

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Under the first proposal, called "For a Switzerland free from synthetic pesticides," the country would have banned synthetic pesticides within 10 years and forbidden food imports produced using such pesticides.

The second proposal, "For clean drinking water and healthy food," dictated that only farms that avoid pesticides and use antibiotics only to treat sick animals, could apply for government subsidies.

Both initiatives were opposed by the Swiss government, who said that the proposals would risk undermining the country's food sovereignty, as well as many farmers. It was backed by the political left and environmental activists. 

The passing of the ban would have made Switzerland the first country in Europe to ban man-made pesticides.

While this potentially historic change looks to have been rejected by Swiss voters, other initiatives were given the go-ahead by citizens.

According to researchers at GFS Bern, 61 percent of voters agreed to extend the government's emergency powers to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, while 57 percent of voters approved for an expansion of police powers under the new anti-terror law.

Under the controversial new law, police will be able to take preventative action more easily when faced with a "potential terrorist," including putting suspects above the age of 12 under surveillance, limiting their movements and obliging them to face questioning.

With a court order, police will also be allowed to place anyone over 15 under house arrest for up to nine months.

Both the UN and Amnesty warned that the new regulation threatens Switzerland's tradition as a human rights leader.

_{Cover image: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP}