On Sunday, 60.8% of voters in the canton of Zurich rejected a plan to reduce the number of languages taught in primary schools to one. Part of a long running saga starting in 2004, the vote put forward by some teachers in Zurich, is based on the concern that primary school children and their teachers […]
Vaud cabinet remains left-leaning and majority female after Sunday’s vote
Le Matin. Voters in the canton of Vaud put two more politicians from the left into the canton’s diving seat on Sunday. The first round of voting left two of seven cabinet (Conseil d’Etat) positions open. Sunday’s winners, the two with the most votes, were existing councillor Béatrice Métraux (49.96%), from the Green party, and the socialist Cesla Amarelle […]
France continues hunt for residents pretending to live in Switzerland
Tribune de Genève. The neighbouring French commune of Saint-Julien-en-Genevois has expanded its hunt for those who live in France but pretend to live in Switzerland. Some of those living in France and working in Switzerland, declare their French home as a secondary residence and claim to reside primarily in Switzerland. This makes them Swiss taxpayers, depriving the […]
Result of Swiss vote on energy on 21 May 2017
Today, Swiss voted on whether to support the federal government’s plan to overhaul Switzerland’s energy system. The plan was accepted by 58.2% of voters. The results were in line with most poll predictions leading up to the vote. Support for the plan was widespread. Majorities of voters supported the plan in 22 of Switzerland’s 26 […]
Petrol vehicles more polluting than diesel ones, according to Swiss research
Researchers at Bern’s University of Applied Sciences have done tests showing that modern petrol cars produce up to 100 times more particulate matter than diesel ones. The team has been testing exhaust emissions in a facility in Nidau for three years. The work has involved the collaboration of four organisations. According to a report by […]
Strong Swiss franc could be over reckons currency strategist at UBS
Tribune de Genève. After more than two years of a highly overvalued franc, relative to the euro, the currency should ease in the near term reckons Thomas Flury, senior currency strategist at UBS. He expects a euro to be worth 1.14 francs in 6 months and 1.16 within a year. Emmanuel Macron’s victory and Marine […]
Switzerland’s fascination with funny money spreads to Valais
A new local currency, dubbed the “Farinet“, was launched recently in the canton of Valais. A similar one called the “Leman” landed in some pockets in Geneva and Lausanne in September 2015. #DYK that the #Swiss canton of Valais has its own currency, the Farinet? Find out more via @TheLocalSwitzer… https://t.co/R7S7ZRZFTm pic.twitter.com/0kKAHD5SRg — Swiss Consulate […]
Swiss cantons consider imposing income tax at source
20 Minutes. To reduce the outstanding amount owed by taxpayers, Basel’s parliament is discussing imposing income tax at source. Vaud is considering a similar plan. Every year, the canton Basel-City has to chase around 15,000 outstanding tax bills amounting to a total of CHF 80 million. According to the newspaper NZZ, getting employers to deduct […]
Poverty in Switzerland has more to do with age than any other factor
A recent report classifies 570,000 people in Switzerland as poor. This number represents 7% of the population, and relates to 2015. In 2014, the same percentage was 6.6%. The report, which looks only at income, defines as poor a single person with income less than CHF 2,239 per month or a family of four with […]
Swiss authorities concerned about health impact of certain chemicals
20 Minutes. A pilot bio-monitoring project in Switzerland will measure traces of pollutants and micronutrient and endocrine disruptors in organic samples. According to 20 Minutes, the impact of certain chemical products worries the authorities. The pilot project was launched last week by the executive branch of Switzerland’s government, known as the Federal Council. Depending on the […]
