Switzerland has four national languages but most of the population is fluent in only one of them. When politicians come together in Bern they generally speak in their home language assuming others present understand them, even if they cannot really speak the language spoken. This week, Pierre Nebel, a reporter at RTS, explored the level […]
Switzerland adopts latest round of EU sanctions against Russia
On 10 June 2022, Switzerland’s government adopted the latest set of EU sanctions against Russia and Belarus, including an embargo on crude oil and certain refined petroleum imports from Russia. The sanctions are the sixth package and were adopted by the EU on 3 June 2022. An embargo on oil imports from Russia by sea […]
Switzerland to join UN Security Council for the first time in its history
On 9 June 2022, Switzerland was elected to sit on the 15-member United Nations Security Council with 14 other nations from 2023 to 2024. The result was largely expected. Only one candidate stood for each of the five regional seats available this year. Switzerland received 187 favourable votes out of a possible 190. Votes are […]
Swiss minister calls on unions to negotiate pay rises
As the cost of living rises in Switzerland some are calling for pay increases. Guy Parmelin, Switzerland’s economics and education minister, says it is the responsibility of unions to negotiate pay rises, reports RTS. In an interview with the newspaper SonntagsBlick, Parmelin said it’s up to unions to negotiate wage rises. The government should not […]
Geneva’s Green Party meat ban divides party
This week, Geneva’s Green Party decided to ban its representatives from eating meat on environmental grounds and to deflect accusations of hypocrisy. However, the decision has divided the party, reported the newspaper Le Matin. The party met to hold a vote on the ban, but the issue was so divisive the party watered down the […]
Switzerland’s Socialist Party wants to relaunch debate on joining EU
One year after breaking off talks to restructure Switzerland’s agreements with Brussels, the leaders of Switzerland’s Socialist Party have put forward a plan on how Switzerland could eventually join the EU, reports RTS. A 32-page document sets out a strategy that unites the party on the issue, something that has divided it for many years. […]
Switzerland releases 3 billion of frozen Russian funds
On 12 May 2022, Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) announced the release of CHF 3.4 billion of funds that was initially frozen in relation to sanctions against specified Russian individuals and companies, reported RTS. The release of the funds follows highly comprehensive analysis to establish whether the funds belonged to any people or […]
Swiss parliament backs lower tax on menstrual products
Switzerland has two rates of VAT: 2.5% for essential items such as food bought in supermarkets, and 7.7% on all other products. Currently, tampons and sanitary pads are taxed at 7.7%. A parliamentary majority would like to see them taxed at the lower rate of 2.5%. It’s a question of fairness, according to Sophie Michaud […]
Health premiums to rise 5% says Swiss price comparison website
According to the price comparison website Comparis.ch obligatory Swiss health insurance premiums are set to rise by an average of 5% in 2023, in some cases as much as 10%. Key drivers of the rise are the impact of the pandemic and pressure by the federal government on insurance companies to refund reserves to policy […]
UDC/SVP wants biodiversity reserves farmed to boost Swiss food output
The soaring price of some food staples resulting from the war in Ukraine has stirred concerns in some political corners about Switzerland’s inability to meet its own food requirements. Switzerland imports around half of the food it consumes making it heavily reliant on the rest of the world. Some members of Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) […]
