The Swiss Trade Association, an organisation representing Switzerland’s small and medium sized businesses (SME) reiterated on Wednesday that it rejects the upcoming referendum aimed at ending Switzerland’s agreement with the EU on the free movement of workers between Switzerland and the bloc. The referendum, known as the Limitation Initiative, will be put to Swiss voters […]
Referendum launched against SwissCovid app
A group in Switzerland has decided to launch a vote against Switzerland’s contact tracing app, an application designed to make it easier to know whether someone has been in contact with someone infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. On 25 June 2020, Switzerland’s contact tracing app, known as SwissCovid, became available for download. Created by a […]
Left-wing extremists engaged in more violence than right-wing extremists in Switzerland
In 2019, there were 236 extremist incidents in Switzerland, according to Switzerland’s federal intelligence service. 88% (207) of the total incidents related to left-wing extremism and 12% (29) to right-wing extremism. In addition, far more left-wing incidents turned violent (115). Only one right-wing incident in 2019 involved violence, according to the intelligence service. In addition, […]
Swiss parliament decides lesbians should have access to sperm
On 11 June 2020, Switzerland’s parliament voted in favour of gay marriage and allowing lesbian couples to have access to sperm donations. 132 parliamentarians voted in favour of the proposal with 52 voting against it. All of Switzerland’s main political parties voted in favour of allowing lesbians access to sperm with the exception of the […]
Easter: most Christians in Switzerland don’t believe in resurrection
It makes sense that atheists and those who follow other religions wouldn’t believe that Jesus physically died and came back to life. However, according to a survey most Christians in Switzerland don’t either. The survey, conducted by Link, shows that only 26% of Switzerland’s population believes in the physical resurrection of Christ, down from the […]
Swiss government files criminal complaint after crypto spying allegations
Last week, Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), filed a criminal complaint over the alleged use of Crypto AG, a Swiss company, to engage in spying activities, according to the newspaper SonntagsZeitung. The complaint, which implicates America’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and West German intelligence (BND), was filed with Switzerland’s federal public prosecutor last […]
Swiss National Bank to distribute 4 billion francs of profit
In 2019, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) made a profit of around CHF 49 billion. These profits came mainly from the rising value of the assets on the bank’s balance sheet. In 2019, the value of its holdings of foreign currency and gold rose substantially. When combined with interest, dividend income and gains on shares […]
Geneva would like to offer Assange refuge
The canton of Geneva could ask Bern to issue a humanitarian visa to Julian Assange, the 48 year old WikiLeaks founder, according to the newspaper Tribune de Genève. Jean Rossiaud, a member of the canton’s parliament and the Green party, is behind the project. Last week he confirmed on Swiss television that he had met […]
Geneva considers more voting rights for foreigners
The government of the canton of Geneva is considering extending voting rights to some of the canton’s large population of foreign residents, according to Tribune de Genève. 41% of the canton’s population are not Swiss. The plan, supported by a majority of a commission (8 votes to 5 with 1 abstention) looking at the idea, […]
Switzerland set to restrict lobbyists from government
Last week, a government commission decided to restrict lobbying on government commissions, according to the newspaper Le Temps. Currently, members of government commissions, which guide voting by elected officials, can take any sum of money from industry. Critics argue this means commission-member votes can be bought. Council of States member Beat Rieder wants to ban […]
