Switzerland’s Federal Council supports the reintroduction of double-barrelled surnames for spouses and children, reported RTS. Double-barrelled names were abolished in Switzerland in 2013. Although many still use double surnames in Switzerland, they cannot be used on official documents such as passports or other identification documents. Questions surrounding surname syntax are surprisingly political in Switzerland. Double […]
Swiss government announces first spending cuts
Like many governments, Switzerland’s federal government is spending more than it collects in taxes and other revenues. However, a constitutional mechanism known as the debt brake limits how much the government can overspend. This means, in the absence of significant economic growth or higher tax rates, the government must cut spending. This week it outlined […]
Switzerland’s disappearing municipalities
By 1 January 2024, Switzerland had 2,131 municipalities (communes/Gemeinde), 162 fewer (-7%) than 10 years ago, reported RTS. With an average of around 4,000 residents per municipality, Switzerland still has a significant number of them. England, with a population of 57 million, has only 318 municipalities (mainly councils), which comes out at an average of […]
Swiss set to vote on changes to rental laws
Changes to Swiss law on renting recently passed by parliament have met with public resistance. This week, enough signatures were collected to trigger a vote aimed at overturning the work of parliament on rental law reform, according to RTS. The two changes, which would make it easier for landlords to move into their own properties […]
Brits abroad for more than 15 years can now vote
From 16 January 2024, British citizens living abroad are now eligible to register to vote in UK general elections, regardless of how long they’ve been living outside the UK. A new law passed in 2022, which came into force this week removes the previous 15-year time limit. The UK Electoral Commission is calling on voters […]
Switzerland and the EU aim for quick start to negotiations
Viola Amherd, Switzerland’s president, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, agreed at the WEF in Davos that they wanted to begin negotiations quickly, reported SRF. Switzerland’s long running saga of negotiations with the EU cleared a hurdle on 15 December 2023 when the Federal Council approved a draft negotiating mandate with […]
Swiss government victim of pro-Russian cyber attack
On 17 January 2024, several federal government websites were temporarily down after a cyber attack, reported RTS. The attack was claimed by the pro-Russian group ‘NoName’ and linked to the presence of Volodymyr Zelensky at the World Economic Forum in Davos. According to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) the group launched a DDoS attack. […]
Two very different votes on Swiss pensions set for March
This week, the referendum roster was announced for 3 March 2023. There will two votes on Switzerland’s state pension system. One aims to tackle the impending funding crisis by extending the retirement age, and the other aims to alleviate old age poverty by increasing payments without a plan to pay for it. The first would […]
Swiss to vote on whether to stop motorway expansion
Motorways across much of Switzerland are clogged at peak times. Recently, the federal government agreed to expand key trunk routes to six lanes. In response, members of the Green Party (and others) started organising a vote against spending CHF 5.3 billion on wider roads. This week, they reached the required number of signatures to call […]
New Swiss rape laws to start on 1 July
On 10 January 2024, Switzerland’s Federal Council announced that new laws on consent will come into force on 1 July 2024, reported RTS. The date reflects delays needed to prepare for the new rules agreed with Switzerland’s cantons. From 1 July, the principle “no means no” will apply to sex. Rape or sexual assault will […]
