On 16 December 2020, Switzerland’s Council of States, the nation’s upper house, accepted a 2021 budget deeply in the red following its acceptance last week by the National Council. In 2021, Switzerland’s federal government plans to collect CHF 75.8 billion while spending CHF 81.9 billion, plunging the budget CHF 6.1 billion into the red. The […]
Brexit: new regulations on bringing animals from UK to Switzerland
From 1 January 2021, imports of animals and animal products from the United Kingdom into Switzerland will be subject to the same conditions as imports from countries outside the European Union. This has consequences for travellers wishing to import animals or products of animal origin from the United Kingdom into Switzerland. From 1 January 2021, […]
Switzerland’s population happy with the health system, according to survey
Switzerland’s health system is rated highly by the public, according to the latest survey conducted in eleven countries by the Commonwealth Fund Foundation. Every 3 years, the Foundation conducts a survey of the general population in eleven countries to investigate experiences of the health system. 88% of the 2,284 people surveyed across all of Switzerland […]
Swiss president one of world’s 100 most influential women, according to Forbes
As her year as Switzerland’s president comes to an end, Simonetta Sommaruga joins 99 other women on the Forbes list of the world’s 100 most influential women. Sommaruga was ranked 56th. The top three were Angela Merkel, Christine Lagarde and Kamala Harris, America’s new vice president. Merkel has held the top spot ten years in […]
Swiss upper house votes in favour of gay marriage
On 18 December 2020, The Council of States, Switzerland’s upper house, voted in favour of allowing gay marriage in Switzerland. 27 members voted for the plan, 15 against and 7 abstained. The result follows a successful parliamentary vote on the subject and is the culmination of a 7-year campaign to achieve full marriage rights for […]
No relief for Swiss renters
Every three months the benchmark interest rate used to set Swiss rents is reviewed. If it goes down some renters can request a decrease in rent. This time it remained at 1.25%. The last time it dropped was March 2020 when it fell from 1.5% to 1.25%, its lowest level since the measure began in […]
Swiss voters reject ban on financing weapons
Today, Swiss voters voted on whether to make it illegal to finance any form of weapons production or invest in any company making weapons. With 57.45% of voters opposed to the ban and 42.55% in favour of it, the margin was convincing. Polls just before the vote suggested only 41% would vote in favour of the plan. […]
Swiss voters narrowly in favour of law making Swiss companies liable for violations abroad
Today, Swiss voters voted on whether Swiss companies should be legally liable for the human rights and environmental damage caused by their own activities or any companies that supply or work with them. With 50.73% of voters in favour of the new law and 49.27% against it, the margin was narrow. Polls just before the vote suggested […]
Swiss home prices rose over the third quarter of 2020
Over the third quarter of 2020, home prices in Switzerland rose by an average of 0.2%. However, the prices of some homes rose while others fell. According to figures published by Switzerland’s federal statistical office, the price of individual houses rose 1.1% while the price of apartments fell by 0.6%. The price rise for individual […]
Swiss referendum: ban on financing weapons
On 29 of November 2020, Swiss voters will vote on whether to ban the financing of weapons makers. As are many nations, Switzerland is involved in the arms industry. Swiss companies produce weapons and parts for weapons, while Swiss investors finance weapons manufacturers both in Switzerland and abroad. In Switzerland, weapons manufacture is subject to […]
