Roughly 800 farms vanish every year in Switzerland, the equivalent of two per day, reported RTS. In the canton of Vaud alone, an average of one farm disappears each week. Behind these figures lies a more complex truth: the difficulty of intergenerational farm succession in a country where agriculture is still shaped by small, often […]
Eurovision – Israel rehearsal disrupted by political protest
Rehearsals for the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest were disrupted on Thursday afternoon by a small group of demonstrators targeting the performance of Yuval Raphael, the Israeli contestant, reported RTS. Six individuals, including members of a family, unfurled large Palestinian flags and used whistles during the performance. Security personnel swiftly removed them from […]
Swiss tenants’ association launches initiative to cap rent hikes
Switzerland’s tenants’ association (Asloca) has launched a popular initiative aimed at curbing what it sees as excessive rent increases, reported RTS. The move reflects growing discontent over housing affordability, particularly in urban centres, and comes amid record-low vacancy rates and sluggish construction activity. The proposal, entitled Yes to protection against abusive rents, seeks to require […]
Swiss government plan to encourage later retirement
This week, Switzerland’s Federal Council unveiled the outline of a new plan to reform Switzerland’s state pension system. The initiative stops short of raising the statutory retirement age, but aims to make early retirement less attractive, encourage work beyond the age of 65, and strengthen the system’s long-term financial sustainability, reported RTS. The primary objective […]
Swiss government sets out curbs on free movement
This week, the Federal Council unveiled criteria that could allow Switzerland to temporarily limit the free movement of persons from the European Union and EFTA countries, reported RTS. The work follows the newly negotiated safeguard clause, part of the broader framework governing Swiss–EU bilateral relations. Under the plan, the government will monitor a set of […]
Swiss parliament backs new childcare allowance
This week, Switzerland’s National Council (parliament) approved a new framework for supporting childcare through an allowance scheme targeting parents with children up to the age of eight, reported RTS. While the proposal largely mirrors the version endorsed by the Council of States, notable differences remain—chiefly regarding the role of the federal government. Under the plan, […]
Swiss parliament chooses compromise on individual taxation
Switzerland moved a step closer to scrapping its so-called marriage tax penalty, a work in progress for around 25 years. This week, the National Council endorsed a compromise proposal for individual taxation, reported SRF. The reform—long sought by proponents of tax equity and gender equality—aims to align the tax system with modern household structures where […]
City of Bern closes experimental bilingual school
Many mistake Switzerland as a nation of polyglots who speak all of the nation’s three main languages fluently. However, German won’t get a visitor very far in Geneva and nor will French in Zurich. At the same time a political imperative to raise multilingualism remains widespread. This week, the closure of an experimental bilingual school […]
Switzerland still needs power reserves, says regulator
Switzerland relies heavily on it’s neighbours to keep its lights on and its electricity supply remains exposed to uncertainty, according to the Federal Electricity Commission (ElCom). In a press briefing on Thursday, the regulator warned that electricity reserves will continue to be necessary in the medium term, despite a broadly secure outlook for the coming […]
Germany tightening borders raises ire in Switzerland
This week, Germany’s new government announced a sharp tightening of its immigration policy, reported RTS. On Wednesday, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt declared that most undocumented migrants, including asylum seekers, would be denied entry, with the exception of vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women. The plan also includes expanded border controls. Switzerland, which shares […]
