For the fourth year, the OECD has ranked 120 countries on their political commitments and laws aimed at eliminating gender discrimination. The percentage based scores measure the remaining discrimination, so the lower the score the better. Overall scores range from 8% in Switzerland, down to 64% in Yemen. Some countries had gaps in their data […]
Three Swiss cities ranked in world’s top 10 most livable
Mercer’s 2019 livability ranking looks at 231 cities across the globe. Vienna comes top for the tenth year in a row, while Bagdad ranks last. Three Swiss cities are among the global top ten. Zurich is 2nd, Geneva 9th and Basel 10th. Bern, a fourth Swiss city, is not far behind in 14th place. No […]
Few grandchildren of immigrants applying for fast track Swiss citizenship
One year after simplified naturalisation was offered to the grand children of immigrants to Switzerland, few have taken up the offer, according to the broadcaster RTS. This right was granted after a successful referendum on the subject on 12 February 2017. 60.4% of voters were in favour of the plan, which came into effect in […]
Swiss health insurance deductibles to rise automatically
Today, Switzerland’s parliament decided to bring in a system of regular increases in the deductibles for basic compulsory Swiss health insurance, according to the newspaper Le Matin. However, a plan to raise the the minimum deductible to CHF 500 was rejected by a clear majority. Between 1996 and 2004, the minimum deductible went from CHF […]
Initiative launched to abolish ministers’ lifetime pensions in Geneva
Currently, anyone serving as at least eight years as a state minister for the canton receives a pension for life. The Liberal Green party recently launched an initiative to have this system abolished, something that has already happened in other Swiss cantons. Initiative organizers have until 8 July 2019 to collect the 5,227 signatures required […]
Muslim parliamentarian sits in public section of parliament to comply with new Geneva dress code
Recently introduced rules in Geneva prevent people in public office wearing religious symbols at work. This week, during a parliamentary session, Sabine Tiguemounine, a parliamentarian from the Green party, decided to sit in the area of Geneva’s parliament building open to the public, rather than sit in the main area where parliamentary members normally sit. […]
Bern bans jet skis on Lake Geneva
Switzerland’s Federal Council recently banned boat-based parasailing along with the use of jet skis and other jet propelled vessels on Lake Geneva. Rules in place since 1979 covering what can be used on the lake did not specifically mention such activities or vessels. After France specifically banned them the baton was the Swiss Federal government […]
Why there is so much egg pasta in Switzerland
Strolling through the pasta aisle of a Swiss supermarket, someone new to Switzerland might conclude that the locals prefer egg pasta over the eggless variety. And, while that might to some extent be true, there is another reason. Every year, Swiss egg producers produce too many eggs and turn to the government for help. The […]
Most Swiss unhappy with the nation’s politics, according to survey
A recently published survey shows only 38% of Swiss were happy with the country’s politics in 2018. The online survey by Vimentis, shows a small improvement on 2017 when the same figure was 36%. Results varied significantly by political party membership. In 2018, most members (60%) of the PLR (FDP) were satisfied, compared to members […]
International Women’s Day – discontent with Switzerland’s childcare system
Since 1911, when people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland came out in support of equal rights, 8 March has been International Women’s Day. A survey by Ispos on the event’s website gives insights into attitudes towards gender equality around the world. Some areas, like whether it’s easier to be a man, are controversial and show […]
