Switzerland is often held up as a model of multilingualism. In August 2025, however, its linguistic diversity nearly led to a railway collision. The incident received widespread attention only after the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (SESE) published its report in June 2026. Two Swiss Rail trains came close to colliding at Neuchâtel-Vauseyon after a […]
Switzerland to vote on its population
On June 14th Swiss voters will decide whether their country should place a ceiling on its population. The proposal, officially titled “No to a Switzerland with 10 million inhabitants!”, would cap the permanent resident population at 10m until 2050. If the number rises above 9.5m before then—a threshold demographers expect could be reached early in […]
Switzerland’s hidden redistribution machine gets bigger
Switzerland’s elaborate fiscal equalisation system rarely attracts much public attention. Yet the latest figures from the federal finance administration suggest the country’s regional divides are widening faster than Bern had expected. On June 9th the federal government announced that equalisation payments to the cantons would rise sharply in 2027, climbing by CHF 527m ($640m) to […]
“No Switzerland of 10m” — second poll shows narrow majority against
A slim majority of Swiss voters intend to reject the “No Switzerland of 10m” initiative, according to the second SSR poll ahead of the June 14th referendum. With only days remaining before the vote, the campaign over the immigration initiative looks set to remain tight. Had the vote been held on May 23rd, 52% of […]
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 […]
Swiss nuclear plants could run for a further 80 years
Switzerland’s existing nuclear power plants could remain in operation for up to 80 years, according to a new report by the federal government, which argues that long-term operation is both technically feasible and economically viable. A memorandum from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy had already concluded in 2024 that extending the lifespan of Swiss […]
Study calculates the high cost of 10 million population cap
A study has found that a “yes” vote on the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) initiative would impose considerable costs on Switzerland. The study was conducted by Demgrafik, a research and consulting firm based in Basel. Its authors argue that curbing population growth would bring some benefits, easing pressure on housing, infrastructure and the environment, as […]
“No Switzerland of 10m people” initiative has driven campaign spending to record levels
Groups backing and opposing the initiative have amassed CHF 15m for the campaign, an unprecedented sum, reports RTS. Campaign budgets ahead of the June 14th referendum have reached a record high, largely because of the “No Switzerland of 10m people” initiative. According to figures published on Friday by the Federal Audit Office, more than CHF […]
Luzern overtakes Zug as Switzerland’s lowest-tax canton
For decades Zug has been synonymous with low corporate taxes. But according to a new analysis by PwC, Luzern has now edged ahead. The consulting firm calculates Luzern’s maximum effective corporate-tax rate at 11.66% in 2026, marginally below Zug’s 11.71%. At the other end of the scale, companies in Bern and Zurich face effective rates […]
The people losing their homes in French-speaking Switzerland
Switzerland’s push to meet its climate targets is colliding with a severe housing shortage. In French-speaking regions, large-scale evictions linked to energy renovations are becoming more common, leaving hundreds of tenants scrambling for new homes, reports RTS. In Geneva, 107 tenants on Boulevard Carl-Vogt received termination notices in January, reported the broadcaster. In Lausanne, 16 […]
