The World Economic Forum (WEF), an exclusive gathering of wealthy folks dropping in on private jets is viewed by many as out of touch with the key challenges currently faced by the global population. Swiss critics of the event are angered that an event closed to the public is provided with publicly funded security, reported […]
Referendum against Swiss climate change programme to test environment minister
This week, the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) announced it had collected enough signatures to launch a referendum to reject the government’s plan for reducing carbon emissions. The initiative puts Albert Rösti, Switzerland’s new environment minister, in a difficult position as a member of the party behind the future vote. On 9 January 2023, the party […]
Cantons caught short by Swiss National Bank losses
On 9 January 2023, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) announced it had made a loss of CHF 132 billion over the course of 2022. Despite the near certainty of the losses and the resulting absence of SNB payments to cantons, a number of cantons included the extra revenue in their budgets, reported RTS. The SNB […]
Swiss Federal Council’s theme and photo for 2023
Every year, Switzerland’s Federal Council publishes a photograph reflecting the theme for the year. This year’s theme is working well together despite differing points of view. Federal Councillor Alain Berset, this year’s president, wants the picture taken by Vaud photographer Matthieu Gafsou to show that the members of the Federal Council can work well together […]
Switzerland’s president in 2023
This week, Switzerland’s Federal Assembly elected Alain Berset as president in 2023, reported RTS. On 7 December 2022, Berset was elected when 140 out of a total of 181 valid votes were cast in his favour. Every year the Federal Assembly, which is made up of Switzerland’s parliament (National Council) and Council of States (upper […]
Swiss cantons to get most of extra company tax money
On 12 January 2022, Switzerland’s Federal Council decided to implement the minimum tax rate for companies that was agreed by the OECD and G20 member states in 2021. The 15% minimum tax, which will be applied to large companies from 1 January 2024, will generate extra tax revenue. This week, after a degree of wrangling, […]
Switzerland gets two new cabinet members
2022 brought the resignation of two members of Switzerland’s Federal Council, the nation’s seven member executive of cabinet who are elected for life. As the year comes to a close two replacements have been selected. First to resign was Ueli Maurer, Switzerland’s minister of finance, who announced his plan to step down on 30 September […]
Bern against federal plan to subsidise health insurance
A federal initiative aimed at subsidising health insurance premiums once they exceed 10% of disposable income met with resistance in Bern this week, reported RTS. The idea, which was put forward by the Socialist Party, would require the federal government to foot two thirds of the bill for the subsidy with cantons left to find […]
Pay rise agreed for Switzerland’s public sector workers
On 2 December 2022, Switzerland’s Federal Council agreed to boost the salaries of those working for the federal government by 2.5% in 2023. Inflation, which was 3% at the end of November 2022, has fuelled demands for higher pay. During negotiations, staff representatives pushed for a pay deal that fully made up for inflation. However, […]
Swiss federal government signs off on negative budget
Negative government budgets are not the norm in Switzerland. Over the 23 years since 2000, 14 federal budgets have been positive and 9 negative. This week the federal government signed off on a negative budget for 2023 with a hole of CHF 4.8 billion in it, bringing the number of negative budgets since 2000 to […]
