The think tank Avenir Suisse thinks that the Swiss system of referenda, where popular votes can change the Swiss federal constitution, has been hijacked by political parties and minority interest groups and needs fixing. According to the think tank, this cornerstone of Swiss direct democracy has become the instrument of political parties and a marketing […]
Swiss Rail lost CHF 1.9 billion in 2014
Despite reporting improved results for 2014, the Swiss Rail Group (CFF/SBB/FFS) was heavily dependent on government support. Revenues increased by CHF 223 million to CHF 8,542 million, however this revenue figure includes CHF 2,249 million of public money. Net profits at CHF 373 million were up 57% on 2013 including the CHF 2,249 million government […]
Why are Swiss voting for a new national anthem?
What makes for a good national anthem? The melody should be festive, solemn, create a sense of identity and unity around shared values and, be easy to remember. Apparently the current Swiss national anthem fails this last test. The majority of Swiss people cannot remember the Cantique Suisse, if they even know it at all. […]
Vaud residents could be costing Geneva millions
A recent study commissioned by Geneva City’s management looks at the costs of running the City. The total cost was CHF 290 million in 2013. After contributions from neighbouring communes including those in France, Geneva City was left with a net bill of between CHF 180 and 200 million. It is estimated that around 60% […]
Why Geneva’s unemployment is higher than Zurich’s
Most think Switzerland has low unemployment, however, aggregate figures mask large regional differences. Underneath the overall national rate of 3.5% (February 2015), lie cantonal rates that range from 1.1% in Obwalden to 5.8% in Neuchatel. Zurich, currently at 3.6% typically hovers around the national average, while Geneva, currently at 5.6% is consistently 2% higher than […]
Continued rise in cross-border workers entering Switzerland
At the end of 2014 there were 287,100 foreign residents crossing the borders of Switzerland to work. This army of day-tripping workers, called frontaliers in French, would fill around 5,000 buses and exceeds the combined populations of the Cantons of Neuchatel and Jura. The cantons with the highest number of cross-border workers were those with […]
Swiss immigration vote re-run
The February 2014 vote showed just how divided Swiss views on immigration are. While 50.3% voted for the proposal to stop mass immigration, 49.7% voted against it. A re-run could easily undo the result – it should be noted that an exact re-run is not possible under Swiss law. While the amendment to the Swiss […]
French-speaking Swiss, Nidwalden loves you!
Voters in Nidwalden last Sunday rejected a UDC Nidwalden sponsored initiative that would have resulted in French being dropped from the canton’s primary school curriculum. 61.7% voted “No”. The parliament of Nidwalden rejected the initiative ahead of the vote on the grounds it would negatively impact national cohesion and advised voters to vote against the […]
No French please. We’re Swiss…..
Two recent stories are reminders of the cultural and political importance of language in Switzerland. Choosing to learn English as a second language makes sound practical sense in an increasingly global world, however in Switzerland it is not that simple. Switzerland, a country with four national languages (German, French, Italian and Romanche), has to juggle […]
Swiss referendum: replace VAT with an eco tax – Yes or No?
The latest initiative from the Liberal Green Party is a vote that aims to replace Swiss VAT with a tax on energy. The proposal would eliminate VAT and replace the revenue with a higher tax on non-renewable energy. The tax would be applied to all non-renewable energy products at percentages related to their environmental impact. […]
