A survey by Tamedia offers clues to why 52.7% of Swiss voters rejected the pension reform plan that was put to a vote last Sunday. 20% of those voting “no” thought it was a pseudo reform that didn’t go far enough, while 26% felt it left too much of a burden on younger taxpayers. In […]
Swiss vote results on pension reform and food security – 24 September 2017
Today, Swiss voted on a reform of the Swiss pension system, which included a plan to raise VAT, and a government counterproposal on a Swiss Farmers’ Union initiative calling for increased subsidies and trade protection for Swiss farmers, dubbed the food security initiative. The food security vote was accepted by 78.7% of voters, while the […]
Swiss food security – vote this weekend
This Sunday, Swiss voters will decide the fate of a proposed change to the constitution on food security. The text is the government’s response to an earlier proposal by the Swiss Farmers’ Union, which demanded farmers receive greater financial support, and better shielding from foreign food imports. The proposal now before voters, which was sufficient […]
Meet Switzerland’s newest federal councillor
Yesterday, Switzerland’s federal assembly elected Ignazio Cassis as the federal council replacement to Didier Burkhalter, who resigned in June this year. Cassis was chosen by a majority of the federal assembly over Pierre Maudet (Geneva) and Isabelle Moret (Vaud) in a tightly contested race, receiving 125 of 244 valid votes in the second round. Cassis, a […]
Swiss voters to decide on controversial pension reform
On 24 September 2017, the Swiss electorate will vote on whether to accept a package of pension reforms. Switzerland has a pension system with three parts. The first is a universal monthly payment funded by the social security system. Compulsory deductions from the salaries of those working fund payments to current retirees. This is known […]
A majority of Swiss support legalising cannabis, says survey
According to a survey, a majority of Swiss support the legalising the sale of cannabis under certain conditions. The survey, conducted by GFS Zurich for Fachverband Sucht and GREA, an association of professionals focussed on addiction, involved questioning 1,200 people by telephone. Of those surveyed, 22% had tried cannabis. The biggest variation was across age. Only 4% […]
Geneva councillor Pierre Maudet ready to give up French nationality
Tribune de Genève. According to Tribune de Genève, Geneva councillor Pierre Maudet is ready to give up his French nationality. Maudet recently put himself forward to replace Didier Burkhalter, the federal councillor, equivalent to cabinet member, who announced his resignation in July. The issue of Maudet’s dual nationality was raised by Céline Amaudruz, a Geneva-based […]
Swiss town’s decision to change canton shows Switzerland’s complexity
Moutier, a largely French-speaking Swiss town of around 7,000 people, has voted to leave the canton of Bern and become part of the canton of Jura. Last Sunday, 51.7% of the nearly 90% of voters casting a ballot, voted to leave Bern and join Jura. Moutier is a commune in one of four districts that decided to remain […]
New initiative to keep foreign workers out of Switzerland
Le Matin. On 15 June 2017, one day after kicking off the job of collecting the signatures required to call a referendum, the text for a new plan to limit access to Switzerland’s job market was presented to the Swiss government. Before a Swiss popular vote or referendum can be launched 100,000 valid signatures must be collected […]
Vaud cabinet remains left-leaning and majority female after Sunday’s vote
Le Matin. Voters in the canton of Vaud put two more politicians from the left into the canton’s diving seat on Sunday. The first round of voting left two of seven cabinet (Conseil d’Etat) positions open. Sunday’s winners, the two with the most votes, were existing councillor Béatrice Métraux (49.96%), from the Green party, and the socialist Cesla Amarelle […]
