In Switzerland military service is compulsory for all young men with Swiss citizenship. Women and foreign residents are not required serve. An initiative to create a universal community service obligation that would include women and to some extent foreigners living in Switzerland was launched on Tuesday. Vote organisers have until 26 October 2023 to collect […]
Swiss to vote on higher retirement age
In Switzerland the official retirement age is different for men (65) and women (64). The federal government wants to create a universal retirement age of 65 for everyone. However, a number of people are opposed to the move and have called for a referendum and hope to overturn the government’s decision. This week, a referendum […]
Chart of the week: the rising number of popular initiatives in Switzerland
Four times a year, Swiss voters are asked to cast votes on proposals put forward by at least 100,000 citizens who must sign in support. Popular initiatives that do not reach the hurdle of 100,000 signatures don’t make the cut. Over the decades the number of popular initiatives has grown significantly. In the 80 years […]
Swiss vote results on animal testing, stamp duty, tobacco and media support
On 13 February 2022, Swiss voters voted on four federal initiatives on animal testing, stamp duty, tobacco advertising and government support for media. A majority (79.08%) of Swiss voters rejected a ban on animal testing, a government plan to remove investment stamp duty (62.67% against) and government support for Swiss media (54.56% against). The only initiative achieving […]
Swiss to vote on government support for media
On 13 February 2022, Swiss voters will decide on whether to accept a federal law on a package of measures to support the media in Switzerland. Switzerland’s government voted to support the media in Switzerland as it adjusts to the impacts of the shift to digital which has seen large platforms that create no content […]
Swiss to vote on banning animal and human experiments
On 13 February 2022, Swiss voters will vote on whether to the ban animal and human experiments. Animal experiments are permitted in Switzerland, as they are in many other countries. They are used in the development of drugs and therapies that offer better treatment of human and animal diseases. Switzerland currently has some of the […]
Swiss to vote on whether to remove stamp duty
Switzerland’s government decided to scrap Switzerland’s unusual 1% tax on funds invested beyond CHF 1 million in Swiss companies. However, some politicians are against the change and launched a referendum against it after collecting the 50,000 signatures needed launch a vote to undo a government decision. Switzerland’s relatively low corporate tax rates are one reason […]
Vote against Swiss “Netflix tax” passes signature hurdle
In October 2021, Switzerland’s government created a law requiring online streaming services to pay money into a Swiss cinema fund. Under the law, from 2024, streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+ will need to pay a levy equivalent to 4% of their Swiss turnover into the fund, which would be spent on producing Swiss […]
Swiss government defends plan to remove stamp duty ahead of vote
The Federal Council has decided to remove the 1% investment stamp duty charged on capital invested in Swiss companies. A majority of parliament are also in favour of the decision. However, some politicians are against the change and have launched a referendum against it. This week the government defended its plan. Switzerland’s relatively low corporate […]
Voters in Zurich support ban on oil and gas heating
Last weekend, 63% of voters in the canton of Zurich confirmed a government decision to phase out heating oil and gas heating in the canton. Laws passed by the cantonal government in 2014 to ban the installation of heating oil and gas heating in new and old buildings proved unpopular with some. Aiming to overturn […]
