Switzerland may soon offer couples a legal status somewhere between marriage and simple cohabitation. Lawmakers are considering the introduction of a civil partnership model known as a PACS (“Pacte civil de solidarité”), inspired by a system that has existed in France since 1999. The proposal would create a nationwide framework for both heterosexual and same-sex […]
Swiss voters will decide on two popular initiatives on September 27th
Swiss voters will decide on two popular initiatives on September 27th: one on neutrality and another on food policy. The government confirmed the ballot measures on Wednesday. The “Safeguarding Swiss Neutrality” initiative, backed by Pro Suisse and members of the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP), seeks to define Swiss neutrality in the constitution as both […]
Swiss premiums to rise next year, says health office
Swiss health-insurance premiums are likely to rise by around 5% in 2027, reflecting persistent growth in healthcare spending, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) warned on Tuesday. Officials nevertheless cautioned that forecasts remain uncertain. Premiums for 2026 do not fully cover expected costs, Philipp Muri, head of insurance supervision at the FOPH told RTS. […]
Drownings down in Switzerland
Forty-three people drowned in Switzerland last year, almost all of them in open water, according to the Swiss Lifesaving Society (SLS). Young adults and the elderly were the groups most affected. The death toll fell below 50 for the first time since 2021. There were 59 fatal drownings in 2024 and a record 66 in […]
Switzerland’s childhood-obesity problem stabilising for some
After decades of concern about rising childhood obesity, Switzerland may finally be bending the curve. A new nationwide body-mass-index survey suggests that the proportion of overweight children has declined modestly over the past 15 years, particularly among younger pupils. Yet the improvements are uneven and social inequalities remain stark. The study, published by Promotion Santé Suisse, […]
Sharp rise in Swiss bankruptcies not what it seems
Swiss corporate bankruptcies surged in 2025, but the country’s economy is not necessarily collapsing. Much of the increase stems instead from a legal reform that has made it easier to force insolvent firms into formal bankruptcy proceedings. According to figures released by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), 13,612 bankruptcy proceedings were opened last year under […]
Geneva to vote on shopping hours and secularism
Voters in the canton of Geneva will head to the polls on June 14th to decide two distinctly Genevan questions: whether shops should open more often on Sundays and whether elected officials should be barred from wearing visible religious symbols in parliament. The first referendum concerns retail opening hours. At present, shops in Geneva may […]
Most Swiss primary pupils perform well, according to assessment
Swiss schools appear to be succeeding at their most basic task. According to a nationwide assessment published by Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education, the overwhelming majority of children in the fourth year of HarmoS schooling—the equivalent of second grade in primary school—meet national standards in mathematics and language skills. The survey, conducted in […]
Switzerland almost the worst nation in Europe on tobacco control
For a country that prides itself on public health and regulatory competence, Switzerland performs strikingly poorly in the fight against smoking. According to a new European ranking on tobacco-control policies, the country places 36th out of 37 states assessed—ahead only of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The ranking, highlighted by the Swiss Association for Tobacco Control, places […]
Swiss Rail to expand offer to Italy and France
Swiss Rail is betting that Swiss travellers want more access to neighbouring Europe. Its proposed 2027 timetable, due to take effect on December 13th, places greater emphasis on international routes, with improved services to Paris and northern Italy, reported RTS. The most notable improvement concerns the route between Lausanne and Paris. From April 5th 2027 […]
