Voters in the canton of Zurich on Sunday rejected both a comprehensive state intervention in the housing market proposed by the left and a set of rigid quota regulations proposed by the centre-right. The so-called housing initiative failed to secure a majority among voters: 59.7% rejected it. Voter turnout stood at around 57%. The proposal, backed by left-wing parties, called for the canton to take on a more active role in the property market. The plan was to establish a public housing authority that would itself build or rent out affordable housing. To do this, the canton would have had to provide at least CHF500 million ($541 million). By contrast, the counter-proposal from the cantonal parliament and government was approved by 57.9% of the electorate. This enshrines the goal of a sufficient supply of housing in the constitution, but removes the state from the role of developer. The cantonal government must now examine concrete measures within three years to improve the framework …