After a stalemate last week, Switzerland’s federal parliament and upper house found a way forward this week on the abolition of imputed rent that both houses could agree on, reported SRF. For more than seven years, the National Council and the Council of States have been discussing how to do away with the imputed rent, […]
Swiss support mobile phone bans in schools
This week, a survey revealed that 82% of Swiss favour mobile phone bans in schools, reported RTS. The percentage rises to 87% among women, with men supporting a ban slightly less (78%). Support for school phone bans cuts across political party lines. 85% of Swiss People’s Party (SVP/UDC) and Socialist Party members favour such a […]
Switzerland’s drink driving accident rates by canton
Across Switzerland, there were 0.49 serious car accident per 10,000 residents involving alcohol in 2023, reported Touring Club Switzerland (TCS). However, some cantons had rates well above this average, with the canton of Geneva in the lead. In 2023, there were 1.09 serious car accident per 10,000 residents involving alcohol in Geneva, a number more […]
Swiss set to vote on night train subsidies
This week, the Green Party and the environmental group actif-trafiC announced they had gathered enough signatures to trigger a vote to overturn a government decision to cut subsidies for overnight trains. Together, they presented 58,640 signatures to officials in Bern. In Switzerland, a referendum can be called to overturn a government decision if at least […]
Health and health insurance remain top concern for Swiss
Every year, the bank UBS publishes its Worry Barometer, a poll that ranks the greatest concerns among Swiss voters. This week, it released the results for 2024. This year’s top concerns are healthcare, environmental and climate protection and retirement provision. Polling for the survey conducted from mid-August to mid-September and included the views of 2,250 […]
Around 1 in 5 adults in Switzerland at bottom of numeracy and literacy scores
An OECD study published this week shows the level of literacy, numeracy and problem solving among the adult population across 31 OECD nations. Switzerland, scores above average on all three measures with significant differences across gender and educational backgrounds. These adult aptitude tests run by the OECD are known colloquially as adult PISA scores. In […]
Use of self-driving systems will soon be allowed on some Swiss roads
From March next year, drivers of cars equipped with self-driving technology will be allowed to use it on motorways, reported RTS. This week, the Federal Council approved regulations allowing the use of self-driving systems. Once in force, starting on 1 March 2025, drivers with self-driving cars will be able to take their hands off the […]
Reversal of higher retirement age for Swiss women rejected by top court
In 2022, Swiss voted to increase the official retirement age of women from 64 to 65, bringing it into line with the age for men. Later, an error was found in some of the numbers presented to voters to justify the change. After the error was revealed, the Socialist and Green parties asked Switzerland’s highest […]
Abolition of imputed rent gets bogged down in complexity
A project to end Switzerland’s controversial system of imputed rent was launched more than seven years ago. This week, discussions in Bern suggest the project’s chances of sucess remain narrow. In Switzerland, anyone who owns a property retained as a primary or secondary residence must add a fictional rent to their taxable income, which is […]
Switzerland bans Hamas and its content
This week, Switzerland’s federal government approved a five-year ban on Hamas, reported RTS. The ban will prevent the organisation from using Switzerland as a refuge. It will also make it illegal for anyone in Switzerland to like or forward digital content related to the organisation. After being accepted by a majority of the Council of […]
