Switzerland is often seen as a magnet for foreigners. Far less attention is paid to the large number that leave every year. In a typical year, roughly 90,000 foreign nationals leave, according to new data obtained by swissinfo.ch. Between 2013 and 2022, net migration averaged more than 60,000 a year, accounting for 85% of Switzerland’s […]
Swiss government favours simple majority vote on EU deal
This week, the Federal Council said it favours putting its new package of agreements with the European Union to an optional referendum, requiring only a simple majority of voters—not the double majority of both voters and cantons required in a mandatory referendum, reported RTS. The decision, announced by the Federal Council on Wednesday, now passes […]
Switzerland criticised for curbs on the right to protest
This week, Amnesty International warned of a steady erosion of the right to protest in Switzerland. Once a central bulwark against injustice and arbitrary power, the freedom of assembly, the organisation argued, must be robustly defended—particularly amid a global surge in authoritarianism. In its annual report published on Tuesday, the human-rights group criticised several recent […]
Reports of racist incidents up nearly 40% in Switzerland
Switzerland recorded 1,211 cases of racial discrimination in 2024, an increase of 335 compared with the previous year, according to a report published by the country’s network of anti-racism centres. The 40% annual rise is the steepest in recent years. Most incidents occurred in schools and the number of reported cases has been climbing steadily […]
Hamas officially banned in Switzerland from 15 May
From 15 May 2025, Hamas will be banned in Switzerland, under a five-year measure approved by the Federal Council on Wednesday, reported RTS. Parliament had given the green light for a ban in December 2024, following the attacks by the Islamist group in October 2023. The ban, drawn up at Parliament’s request, targets not only […]
US wants to prioritise trade negotiations with Switzerland
Karin Keller-Sutter, Switzerland’s president and finance minister, met Scott Bessent, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, in Washington on Thursday for what she described as a productive exchange. The two discussed ways to strengthen economic collaboration between their countries, reported RTS. Switzerland is among 15 countries with which the United States is seeking a swift resolution to […]
The strange departure of Klaus Schwab
Klaus Schwab, 87, the founder and long-time figurehead of the World Economic Forum (WEF), has resigned as chairman, marking the end of an era for the organization he created in 1971. His departure was announced on 20 April 2025, following an extraordinary board meeting, according to a WEF official statement. Interim CEO Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, a […]
Swiss tourists avoiding the US
Travel from Switzerland to the United States has dropped sharply, especially among the young and families, according to recent US travel data. The number of Swiss holidaymakers visiting the United States fell steeply in February and March, according to figures released this week by America’s International Trade Administration. The decline, which began in February, intensified […]
Swiss officials not following EU use of burner phones for US travel
The European Commission is reportedly tightening internal security guidance for staff travelling to the United States, placing the country on a par with China, Iran, and other sensitive destinations in terms of data protection, reported SRF. The aim of the EU move is to guard against potential espionage, a reflection of growing mistrust between Washington […]
Toblerone reclaims its Swiss identity
Since shifting part of its production to Slovakia in 2023, Toblerone has no longer qualified to claim it is Swiss made. The iconic Matterhorn vanished from its packaging, replaced by a generic peak. Now, its owner, the US multinational Mondelez, plans to reconnect the product with Switzerland, reported SRF. After losing the right in 2023 […]
