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 […]
Swiss vote results on Covid laws, Nurses and Judges
On 28 November 2021, Swiss voters voted on three federal initiatives on Covid laws, nurses working conditions and the way judges are selected. The controversial vote on Covid laws was aimed at revoking Covid laws introduced in March 2021, which include provisions allowing Switzerland’s Covid certificates to be implemented. As forecast in recent polls, the latest […]
Swiss to vote on three proposals this Sunday
On 28 November 2021, Swiss voters will be asked to decide on three proposals, one of them is particularly contentious. Nursing Initiative The first is an initiative aimed at improving the working conditions of nurses. As the population ages the profession faces major challenges. In order to maintain high-quality nursing care a greater number of […]
Numerous complaints filed against vote on Swiss Covid rules
On 28 November 2021, Swiss voters will cast votes on whether to reverse some of Switzerland’s Covid laws in one of the nations most divisive votes. In the run up to the referendum, numerous complaints have been filed over how it is being handled. A number of those opposed to the government’s Covid measures are […]
