Swiss voters rejected an initiative to slash the national radio-television fee while approving a reform introducing individual taxation for married couples. They also backed a government counter-proposal on cash in the constitution and rejected a climate fund. Broadcasting fee initiative rejectedVoters rejected the initiative “200 francs is enough!”, which proposed cutting the radio-television fee from […]
Swiss government presses ahead with VAT rise to fund army despite opposition
The federal government is sticking to its plan to raise value-added tax (VAT) by 0.8 percentage points over ten years to finance the army, despite heavy criticism. The increase is intended to generate an additional CHF 31bn ($40bn) for defence and security. To strengthen Switzerland’s security and defence capabilities, the government proposes to raise VAT […]
What is Switzerland’s broadcasting levy?
Redevance (or Medienabgabe in German) is a word much heard since the launch of the “200 francs is enough!” initiative, on which voters will decide on March 8th. The levy is a compulsory annual charge paid by every household in Switzerland, whether or not they consume radio or television. Some firms pay it, too. Collection […]
Swiss finance minister defends austerity despite surprise surplus in 2025
Switzerland’s federal government closed 2025 with a financing surplus of CHF 0.3bn, rather than the CHF 0.8bn deficit forecast in the budget. The improvement of more than CHF 1bn was largely due to temporary additional tax revenue from the canton of Geneva. Ministers caution that the windfall should not be mistaken for a change in […]
Swiss federal government posts surprise surplus in 2025
Switzerland’s federal government ended 2025 in the black, recording a surplus of CHF 300m, despite having forecast a deficit of CHF 800m. The result is CHF 1.1bn better than expected. Even so, the Federal Council insists that its planned austerity programme remains necessary. The improvement stems largely from higher-than-anticipated tax receipts from Geneva, Finance Minister […]
Swiss government wants discounts on popular drugs to curb health premiums
Switzerland’s Federal Council and parliament are seeking to slow the relentless rise in health-insurance premiums by cutting the cost of the country’s bestselling medicines. The government estimates the move could save CHF 350m ($450m) a year, reported RTS. Nearly a year ago lawmakers approved a package of measures aimed at containing health spending. On Thursday […]
Will you pay less federal tax under proposed tax reform?
On March 8th Swiss voters will decide whether to replace joint taxation of married couples with individual taxation. The reform aims to abolish the so-called marriage penalty, whereby spouses are taxed on their combined income rather than separately. Married couples are most directly affected, but the change would reshape federal direct tax for many households. […]
Swiss voters oppose VAT rise for army and pensions, survey finds
Swiss voters appear reluctant to raise value-added tax (VAT) to finance either higher defence spending or a 13th monthly state pension, according to a survey conducted for Blick. Opposition spans the political spectrum. More than three-quarters of the roughly 15,000 respondents in German- and French-speaking Switzerland rejected a temporary 0.8 percentage-point increase in VAT to […]
A majority of Swiss households coping with rising health-insurance premiums
Rising premiums for compulsory health insurance continue to stir political debate in Switzerland. Yet a representative survey by Comparis, an online price comparison platform, suggests that for most households the burden remains manageable. Some 59% of respondents report no difficulty paying their premiums despite steady increases. Roughly one-third benefit from cantonal subsidies. Felix Schneuwly, health-insurance […]
Is the latest Swiss Olympic bid against the will of the people?
Switzerland may bid to host the 2038 Winter Olympics—despite a long record of public resistance, reports SRF. Voters rejected Olympic projects in cantonal referendums in 2013, 2017 and 2018—Graubunden twice then Valais. This time, however, the proposal is being advanced without a vote. The bid is being prepared by Swiss Olympic, which argues that past […]
