The business and industry association Economiesuisse says the up-coming vote on 25 November 2018 on self-determination puts the Swiss economy at risk. The Swiss People’s Party led initiative entitled: Federal law instead of foreign judges, aims to cement the primacy of Swiss law over international law by adding a clause to Switzerland’s constitution. The Federal Council, […]
Vote to end free Swiss-EU migration gets enough signatures
Organizers of a vote to limit immigration into Switzerland from EU and EFTA nations, had until 18 July 2019 to collect 100,000 valid signatures. Last week, almost one year ahead of the deadline, the Swiss People’s Party announced that they had collected 125,000 signatures. Surprised by how quickly the signatures were collected, Swiss People’s Party leader […]
Geneva – vote to challenge new laws some deem discriminatory
In April 2018, the government of Geneva introduced rules designed to protect religious freedom and preserve religious peace, known as laïcité, or secularity, laws. Laïcité is enshrined in article 3 of Geneva’s constitution, which requires the state to be secular and separate from religion. In Switzerland, religion is a cantonal matter. Geneva’s parliament voted 63 […]
Swiss parliament rejects initiative calling for primacy of Swiss law
On 12 June 2018, an initiative calling for a constitutional amendment, which would place Swiss law above international law, was rejected by the National Council by 129 to 68 votes, after a lengthy nine hour discussion spanning three days. Earlier, the initiative dubbed: Swiss law not foreign judges, organized by the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP), […]
Plan to drop French in primary school rejected by voters in Basel-Landschaft
Over the weekend, a majority of voters in the canton of Basel-Landschaft rejected a plan to remove French from the primary school syllabus. The plan entitled: Stop overloading pupils, called for removal of French from the syllabus. Most children in German-speaking Switzerland speak Swiss German at home. When they go to school they must learn […]
Swiss vote results on banking system and gambling – 10 June 2018
Today, Swiss voters voted on two federal initiatives: the full money initiative and changes to gambling laws. The vote to change Swiss gambling rules aimed to update existing laws on gambling in Switzerland and the full money initiative was a vote to radically change Switzerland’s banking system. As predicted, the vote to change Swiss gambling rules was […]
Switzerland votes this weekend on its banking system and gambling rules
On Sunday 10 June 2018, Swiss voters will vote on two federal initiatives. Vote to change Swiss gambling rules The plan aims to update existing laws on gambling in Switzerland. Among the changes are the removal of taxation on winnings up to one million francs, the application of Swiss law to any entity offering gambling […]
Swiss vote to block unauthorized gambling websites set to pass
A vote on 10 June 2018 on a plan to shake up gambling in Switzerland has widespread support, according to a recent poll run by gfs.bern and reported by RTS. The plan aims to update existing laws on gambling in Switzerland. Among the changes are the removal of taxation on winnings up to one million […]
Switzerland’s vote to change its monetary system – sensible or silly?
Sometimes Swiss voters are presented with questions that only specialists are equipped to answer. The vote on 10 June 2018 to change their monetary system appears to be one of these. On the surface it appears simple. Upon closer inspection it contains much complexity and uncertainty, compounded by a widespread misunderstanding of how the financial […]
Swiss vote results on public broadcasting fee and federal tax – 4 March 2018
Today, Swiss voters voted on two federal initiatives: New Financial Regime 2021 and No Billag. Switzerland’s federal government must periodically seek voter approval to collect taxes. Currently, the federal government has the right to levy these taxes until 2020. Today’s New Financial Regime 2021 vote, is aimed at extending this right until 2035. The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, Switzerland’s public […]
