Today, Swiss voted on whether to accelerate the closure of the nation’s five nuclear reactors. The government’s existing plan to exit nuclear power generation involves shutting down all five reactors at the end of their safe lifesspans, which it estimates to be 50 years. This would mean closing them all between 2019 and 2034. Under […]
Swiss fact: Switzerland’s newest canton was created as recently as 1979
Most consider 1291 to be the date Switzerland became a nation. That year, the three cantons of Uri, Unterwalden and Schwyz, agreed to stand together against outside judges and aggressors. Progressively over the years Switzerland expanded from these three cantons, to 25, when Geneva joined in 1815. Switzerland would wait more than 160 years to […]
Swiss in favour of going nuclear free, says survey
24 Heures. On 27 November 2016, Swiss will vote on whether to shut down their nuclear power stations when they reach 45 years of operation. According to a recent survey by Tamedia, which owns the newspapers Tribune de Genève and 24 Heures, 55% of Swiss would like to see Switzerland’s nuclear plants shut down. The […]
25 September 2016 Swiss referenda results – new surveillance powers approved
The only vote to pass today was the Intelligence Service Act referendum, which passed with 65.5% voting “yes”. Both the vote to increase state pensions by 10% (40.6% “yes”), and the Green initiative (36.4% “yes”), failed. These results are in line with the positions held by the Swiss federal council and parliament. The vote to increase state […]
Swiss to vote on whether to give government snooping powers
On 25 September 2016, the Swiss electorate will vote on the Intelligence Service Act. If successful, the referendum will allow Switzerland’s Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) to monitor private communications, such as those by post, internet and telephone. The government says it needs these powers to protect the country from terrorism, cyber attacks and spying. Terrorist and cyber […]
Swiss to vote on state pension increases
On 25 September 2016, Swiss will vote on a plan to increase state pensions. Vote initiator, Switzerland’s Socialist Party, wants basic state pensions to go up by 10 percent. It argues that because costs have gone up, and returns on savings have declined, an increase is required to make up the difference. In Switzerland, everyone is entitled to an […]
Swiss to vote on a plan to cut ecological footprint by two thirds
On 25 September 2016, the Swiss electorate will vote on the ‘Green Economy’ initiative, the work of the Green party. Switzerland’s per capita consumption of the earth is far from sustainable. The Green party says three earths would be required if everyone on the planet consumed natural resources, such as water, air, soil or raw materials, […]
Brexit will affect Switzerland, says Swiss president
Swiss president Johann Schneider-Ammann said “This decision affects your country directly and indirectly.” Firstly, relations between Switzerland and the UK will need to be redrawn. This will not happen today, but once the UK formally leaves, in around two years time. The current rules for people and companies will stay in place until further notice. Switzerland […]
At a glance – Switzerland’s nuclear power stations
In 2015, Switzerland consumed 58 billion kWh of electricity. It exported 43 billion kWh, mainly to Italy, and imported 42 billion kWh, mainly from France, Austria and Germany. Around 35% of the total was produced from nuclear, 59% from hydro, and 6% from other sources, based on 2015 Swiss Federal Office of Energy SFOE numbers. The […]
Why Switzerland’s unconditional basic income vote failed
Switzerland’s universal income proposal was rejected by voters on Sunday. And while a majority of voters in a small number of communes voted in favour of it, nationwide 76.9% were against it. So why did it fail? A number of people with a connection to Switzerland shared their views on Quora.com. Here are three: Read Pandy Legend's […]
