In 2023, Swiss voters accepted a plan to provide subsidies to replace oil and basic electric heating with cleaner more efficient heating, such as electric heat pumps. The plan involved spending CHF 200 million a year on such incentives over a 10-year period starting on 1 January 2025. However, Switzerland’s federal parliament decided in December […]
Switzerland’s Catholic Church hopes psychological tests will reduce sexual abuse
A study by the University of Zurich in 2023 into sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church in Switzerland provided clear estimates of the scale of crimes committed within the institution, prompting church leaders to act. This week, SRF reported on measures the church plans to introduce to combat these crimes. One is psychological testing […]
Swiss Federal Council’s theme and photo for 2025
Every year, Switzerland’s Federal Council publishes a photograph reflecting the theme for the year, which is chosen by the new president. This year’s theme is the unique character of Swiss democracy. Photographer Arthur Gamsa took photos of people across Switzerland and used them to create a mosaic of more than 1,000 faces. This mosaic forms […]
Swiss tax free allowance cut from 1 January 2025
Until 31 December 2024 it was possible to enter Switzerland with CHF 300 of shopping per person per day without paying Swiss VAT. From 1 January 2025, the limit is CHF 150 per person per day. The Federal Council decided in October 2024 to cut the tax-free limit, despite negative reactions from many consumers and […]
Switzerland’s new president in 2025
Every year, Switzerland gets a new president. It happens so often that some Swiss people don’t know the name of their head of state. The role of Swiss president doesn’t come with the power of most presidencies. Switzerland’s president is selected from the seven-member Federal Council and the role comes with no additional constitutional powers […]
Swiss-EU negotiations now complete
On 20 December 2024, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Bern to conclude the long negotiations between Switzerland and the EU on their future relationship, reported RTS. Von der Leyen described the deal as a historic agreement that is all the more important given the tense global situation. In times of war and economic […]
Federal parliament approves abolition of imputed rent
After a stalemate last week, Switzerland’s federal parliament and upper house found a way forward this week on the abolition of imputed rent that both houses could agree on, reported SRF. For more than seven years, the National Council and the Council of States have been discussing how to do away with the imputed rent, […]
Health and health insurance remain top concern for Swiss
Every year, the bank UBS publishes its Worry Barometer, a poll that ranks the greatest concerns among Swiss voters. This week, it released the results for 2024. This year’s top concerns are healthcare, environmental and climate protection and retirement provision. Polling for the survey conducted from mid-August to mid-September and included the views of 2,250 […]
Reversal of higher retirement age for Swiss women rejected by top court
In 2022, Swiss voted to increase the official retirement age of women from 64 to 65, bringing it into line with the age for men. Later, an error was found in some of the numbers presented to voters to justify the change. After the error was revealed, the Socialist and Green parties asked Switzerland’s highest […]
Swiss parliament accepts contentious budget
On Thursday, Switzerland’s federal parliament accepted a budget for 2025 by 120 versus 73 votes, reported RTS. Opposing votes came from politicians on the left, who make up a large minority in Switzerland’s lower house. Included in the budget were an increase in military spending, cuts to farm subsidies and large cuts to international aid. […]
