This week, the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) reiterated its position on immigration at a press conference ahead of Switzerland’s upcoming federal election, reported RTS. The party, Switzerland’s largest, also set out its stance on immigration on its website. According to party president Marco Chiesa, mass immigration and asylum chaos are Switzerland’s greatest problems. Too many […]
Top Swiss court acquits climate activists who called for army boycott
In 2020, three climate activists in the canton of Vaud made a public call for a boycott of army service and the payment of the extra tax that must be paid by all young Swiss men who fail to undertake compulsory military service. A case was brought against the men in their 20s and 30s […]
Left-wing Nazi mailbox sticker causes a political stir in Switzerland
A mailbox sticker produced and distributed by the left-wing environmental group Campax caused a political stir this week. The sticker has a picture of a sheep wearing a black T-shirt emblazoned with “FCK NZS” kicking the logos of the FDP/PLR and Swiss People’s Party (SVP/UDC) with its hind legs. The sticker has been described as […]
Swiss government to cut discriminatory widows’ pensions
In 2022, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in favour of Max Beeler, a man who claimed there was gender discrimination regarding pension payments to widows and widowers in Switzerland. This week, the government formalised changes removing the inequality of treatment of bereaved men and women. Currently, women receive a widower’s pension for life […]
Swiss government approves blow out budget for 2024
On 28 June 2023, Switzerland’s Federal Council approved a budget for 2024 with a deficit of CHF 6.7 billion. Switzerland’s constitution includes a section designed to constrain spending to prevent the government from living beyond its means. The debt brake, as it is known, allows a limited degree of annual overspending that is expected to […]
Why attacks on abortion rights have failed in Switzerland
Abortion rights are a hot political topic in the US and women’s access to them has been significantly reduced recently. Some political groups have tried to reduce access to abortion in Switzerland. However, their attempts have fallen flat. Why? Political scientist Cloé Jans at gfs.bern, a political research organisation, shared her views with SRF. In […]
Alain Berset, Switzerland’s president resigns
On 21 June 2023, Alain Berset, Switzerland’s president and health minister officially resigned, reported SRF. He will finish at the end of 2023. The Socialist Party politician from the canton of Fribourg has been a Federal Councillor (minister) since 2012. He succeeded Micheline Calmy-Rey on 1 January 2012 and took up his current role after […]
Swiss parliament responds to initiative to raise retirement age
Switzerland’s ageing population is undermining the future financial health of its state pension system, a challenge facing much of the world. A number of Swiss politicians believe later retirement is the only way to meaningfully confront the issue. Andri Silberschmidt, a member of the PLR/FDP in Zurich, along with others, has launched an initiative to […]
UBS gets 9 billion franc government guarantee for Credit Suisse deal
On 9 June 2023, UBS closed a deal with the Swiss government to cover 9 billion francs of potential losses it could incur from its takeover of Credit Suisse Group, reported Bloomberg. The guarantee relates to a specific portfolio of Credit Suisse’s assets currently valued at CHF 44 billion, equivalent to roughly 3% of the […]
No money for refugee container accommodation in Switzerland
Some in Bern hatched a plan to build accommodation out of shipping containers to cope with the expected influx of refugees into Switzerland. However, this week, the Council of States, Switzerland’s upper house, rejected a funding request for the plan, reported SRF. The Council of States had already spoken out against the idea last week […]
