On 24 November 2024, Swiss voters will be called on to decide on four things, announced the Federal Council this week. The four votes include one on road and tunnel extensions, two on rental contracts and one on healthcare funding. Road and tunnel enlargement The first is a government plan to extend road infrastructure in […]
Swiss to raise fares to cover costs of environmental regulations
This week, Swiss and its parent Lufthansa group announced fare hikes on flights departing from Europe to cover the cost of complying with European Commission environmental rules, reported RTS. From 1 January 2025, European flyers will pay a surcharge. Anyone departing from the UK, Norway, Switzerland or one of the 27 EU nations will be […]
Former Swiss president to head Council of Europe
On 25 June 2024, Alain Berset was elected the new secretary general of the Council of Europe. Six months ago, Berset was a member of Switzerland’s cabinet, known as the Federal Council. in 2023, he was also Switzerland’s president. The Council of Europe is a European organisation focused on upholding human rights, democracy and the […]
Swiss housing crisis squeezing those on low incomes
Switzerland’s housing crisis is pushing low income earners into poverty, warned Caritas this week. According to the charity, high rents are pushing some low income earners into poverty. An acute shortage of housing is pushing rents beyond the level that some people can afford, forcing them to cut back on spending in other areas, said […]
Hiking banned on Rhone as river level rises
Walking next to the Rhone has been banned in the canton of Valais until Monday evening due to high water levels, reported RTS. High temperatures over the last few days have rapidly melted some of the unusually abundant snowfall in April and May 2024. In addition, there has been heavy rain. The combined effect of […]
Switzerland’s birth rate continues to fall
The number of babies born in Switzerland fell to 80,024 in 2023, a birth rate of 1.33 per woman, reported RTS. As recently as 2021, 89,644 babies entered the world in Switzerland. Between 2021 and 2023, the number has fallen nearly 11%. In 2023, the fertility rate in Switzerland reached an historic low after trending […]
Swiss spend a record number of hours in traffic in 2023
In 2023, total hours spent in traffic in Switzerland rose 22% compared to 2022, reaching an all time high, according to data from the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO). Across the year, nearly 49,000 hours of traffic congestion were recorded on Switzerland’s motorways, expressways and third-class national roads, 22.4% more than the year before. These roads […]
Switzerland’s youngest canton turns 50 on Sunday
On 23 June 1974, after a popular vote, Switzerland’s newest canton began the journey to being officially recognised in Switzerland’s constitution. In 1963, separatists blew up a branch of the Bern Cantonal Bank in Delémont after burning three farms. Growing numbers from the French-speaking Jura region of the largely German-speaking canton of Bern, were calling for […]
Basel City to penalise drivers of large cars
Cars are getting larger. Basel will be the first Swiss city to charge the drivers of large cars more for parking. It is also considering higher taxes for big vehicles, reported SRF. In Basel City space is tight and parking spaces are often difficult to find. To make better use of limited parking space the […]
Swiss TV and radio licence fee to be cut
This week, Switzerland’s Federal Council decided to cut CHF 35 off the compulsory annual fee households must pay for public television and radio. The fee will fall from CHF 335 to CHF 300 by 2029, reported RTS. The fee reduction will happen gradually, falling to CHF 312 in 2027 and then to CHF 300 in […]
