Swiss business and farming groups are stepping up calls for a rollback of red tape, warning that an expanding regulatory burden is stifling productivity just as labour shortages intensify. They are urging the Federal Council and parliament to act before the end of the current legislative term. At a press conference in Bern, economiesuisse, the […]
Majority of Swiss favour recognising Palestine as a state
A majority of Swiss voters would favour recognising Palestine as a sovereign state, according to a new survey by the polling institute Sotomo. Some 57% of respondents said they were in favour, or somewhat in favour, of such a move, reported RTS. Support cuts across age groups, education levels, linguistic regions and gender. It is […]
Corruption complaint filed against Swiss executives over gifts to Trump
Two Swiss Green Party lawmakers have filed a criminal complaint for suspected corruption against a group of Swiss business leaders who presented luxury gifts—including a Rolex clock and a one-kilogram gold bar—to Donald Trump during recent trade talks in Washington, reported RTS. The complaint, submitted to the federal prosecutor by Raphaël Mahaim and Greta Gysin, […]
Swiss government rejects bid to force mandatory referendum on EU accords
The Swiss government has rejected the so-called “Compass” Initiative, which seeks to subject the planned package of agreements with the European Union to a mandatory vote of both the people and the cantons. The Federal Council ruled out the proposal this week and declined to offer a counter-project. Formally titled: For direct democracy and the […]
Swiss journalists face rising hostility, study finds
Six in ten Swiss media professionals encountered insults or hate speech last year, according to the first systematic study of journalists’ safety in the country. The research, by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), paints a picture of a profession increasingly exposed to harassment. Eleven per cent of respondents reported physical (19%) or verbal […]
Swiss soldiers may soon take ammunition home again
Swiss soldiers may soon be allowed to keep ammunition at home once more. The Security Policy Committee of the Council of States has voted, by seven to five, to instruct the Federal Council to prepare for the reintroduction of so-called pocket ammunition, citing Europe’s deteriorating security environment, reported SRF. For decades Switzerland raised eyebrows abroad […]
Switzerland launches national campaign against domestic violence
Domestic violence remains one of Switzerland’s gravest social problems, the federal interior ministry notes. In 2024 police recorded 21,127 offences linked to domestic violence—6% more than in 2023 and roughly 40% of all registered crimes. Women account for nearly 70% of victims. More than half of all homicides occur in domestic settings, and NGOs report […]
Switzerland edges toward gender-neutral military service
Switzerland’s system of compulsory military service applies only to men, an arrangement that has long fuelled debate about who should serve in the military or in civil protection. Female conscription remains rare globally, limited to countries such as Norway, Sweden, Denmark (introduced in 2025) and Israel. The Federal Council now wants to bring women a […]
Switzerland’s 13th pension timing confirmed
On 11 November 2025 the Federal Council confirmed that AHV compensation offices will pay a thirteenth old-age pension for the first time in December 2026, as a supplement to that month’s pension, reported SRF. The extra payment will amount to one-twelfth of a recipient’s annual pension. Child and supplementary pensions, as well as the transition-generation […]
Swiss voters to decide on four issues in March 2026
Swiss citizens will head to the polls on March 8th 2026 to vote on four national measures: initiatives on cash, public broadcasting, and a climate fund, as well as a referendum on individual taxation, reported the government this week. Cutting the bill for public broadcastingThe “200 francs is enough” initiative, backed by the right-wing Swiss […]
