MARTIGNY Once again the can of worms has been reopened regarding whether English or a Swiss national language should be the first foreign tongue taught at primary-school level. Several German-speaking cantons continue to object to a federal requirement that two mandatory foreign languages must be taught at primary level. Many schools in Canton Zurich already […]
Meet the neighbours
Ever felt you’d like to get to know your neighbours, but have never really had the chance? Help is at hand. On Friday 23 May, all around the region, thousands of neighbours will congregate at hundreds of Neighbours’ Day parties. Started in 1999 in France, the aim is to build and strengthen communities and improve […]
Blocher resigns from parliament
Billionaire politician Christoph Blocher, the driving force behind the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (UDC), has resigned from the House of Representatives, with effect from the end of May. Blocher has long been an outspoken critic of parliament and, indeed, of most Swiss political institutions. He is leaving to pursue other political goals. The 73-year-old former […]
Health spending reaches 11.5% of Swiss GDP
Swiss medical care costs rose from 11% of GDP in 2011 to 11.5% in 2012 due largely to an unprecedented increase of CHF 2.3 billion in hospital spending. With the average healthcare spend per person reaching CHF 709, the nation’s total 2012 health bill reached a record CHF 68 billion.
Online overtaking taxi cartels
Taxi tariffs in the region are expensive and compare unfavourably even with Paris or London. French-side taxis are cheaper, but fewer and far between. The trade is highly regulated with virtual monopolies or cartels operating without any real threat of competition. The operators justify their rates by arguing that they provide a safe, secure and […]
Palexpo generates CHF 581 million for region
Palexpo, Geneva’s exhibition and conference centre turned over CHF 77m in 2013, an increase of 15% over last year, despite the number of events it hosted falling from 110 to 96. Based on calculations modelled by two professors from the University of Geneva, Palexpo reports that its activity generated CHF 581 million for the regional […]
Vote on world’s highest minimum wage
The Swiss will vote on a controversial minimum wage proposal of CHF 4,000 per month (CHF 22 an hour) at the next nationwide referendum on 18 May. The Swiss Trade Union Federation, which launched the initiative, is also calling for both Bern and the cantons to ensure that minimum rates become part of collective agreements. […]
Games for Change: Another option
NEW YORK In last week’s edition of Le News, we featured the problems arising from excessive “screen” use among young people. Here is a more positive “gaming” approach. Entertaining millions around the world, online games are part of an industry worth billions of dollars drawing both young and old into ever-more virtual realities. Many families, […]
Are referendums for the best?
With diverse constituencies (Britain, Scotland, Russia, Quebec…) dabbling in the need – or threat – to hold referendums as long as it suits their purposes, the Swiss model has proved the most successful, but also questionable. Exploring the Gripen affair on our front page, one is left wondering whether a popular vote is such a […]
Gripen: Whose truth?
BERN With the planned 18 May referendum to decide whether Switzerland should purchase 22 Swedish Gripen fighter aircraft, how transparent is Bern with regard to cost and feasibility? Both the Swiss Federal Council and the Department of Defence are pushing a plane that the Norwegian government rejected five years ago based on two studies because […]
