In 2017, a Swiss doctor prescribed pentobarbital, a drug used in anesthesia, to a healthy 86-year-old woman who wanted to die alongside her seriously ill husband. Before consulting the doctor, the woman had already signed a notarised document stating that she could not psychologically bear the prospect of living without her husband. Pierre Beck, the […]
EU nations approve new negotiations with Switzerland
This week, the European Commission was given a green light to negotiate a new deal with Switzerland, reported RTS. The start of negotiations requires the approval of all EU members. On 12 March 2024, they all agreed. The European Commission, the EU’s governing body, said on Tuesday that it had formal permission to open discussions […]
Swiss government rejects plan for universal public service
Currently, Switzerland’s system of compulsory public service is focused on the military and applies only to men. A vote aimed at shifting to a universal system compulsory for everyone, met with resistance from the federal government this week, reported SRF. The Federal Council said it was opposed to the idea and offered no counter proposal. […]
Church tax – should Swiss companies be forced to pay?
Individuals can opt out of church tax in most cantons. But companies rarely can, despite many having no connection with a church or a religion. The topic has been a hot political subject for a long time in Switzerland and came back under the spotlight this week when the canton of Bern discussed making it […]
After years debate, federal government drops voting age of 16
This week, Switzerland’s federal government reached a dead end on reducing the voting age to 16. It is unlikely the idea will be discussed again for a while, reported SRF. After years if discussion, federal parliament rejected the idea. The left favoured it – younger people are more likely to lean left, while those on […]
Swiss farmers join European protests
Swiss farmers joined European farmers in protest this week. Using the tractor, the go-to farm protest vehicle, thousands of farmers across the country assembled in various locations and arranged their tractors to make SOS symbols, reported RTS. Like farmers across Europe, Swiss ones particularly object to the low prices they get for their produce, environmental […]
Swiss set to vote on a climate fund
This week, the Socialist and Green Parties submitted sufficient signatures to trigger a popular initiative, reported RTS. According to the organisers, nearly 130,000 signatures were submitted to the Federal Chancellery on Thursday. The initiative aims to create a climate fund that would help all levels of government to invest in actions to meet international climate agreements. […]
Higher Swiss pensions – voter support narrows
Support for the popular initiative to boost state pensions by 1/13 narrowed from 61% to 53% between 14 January and 10 February, according to a poll published by RTS. Voting intentions vary significantly by age. In the latest poll, people under 40 were most against it (55%), possibly because they know they will probably need […]
Zurich initiative aims to make demonstrators pay for police cost
An initiative in the canton of Zurich will ask voters on 3 March 2024 to decide whether those who demonstrate should cover the costs of damage and the costs of policing protests, reported SRF. Those behind the plan argue protestors who break windows or glue themselves to roads should be required to cover the costs […]
Switzerland slips in democracy ranking
In 2023, Switzerland slipped one place in the EIU democracy ranking to eighth place behind Norway, New Zealand, Iceland, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Ireland. Overall, only 24 (14%) out of the 167 nations surveyed were classified as full democracies. The relatively small populations of these flag bearers of democracy means only 8% of the global […]