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Swiss Politics

Switzerland and EU reach deal on future bilateral relations

Negotiations between Switzerland and the EU concluded, objectives achieved

Switzerland and the European Union have announced a political agreement to update their trading relationship after almost a decade of difficult talks.

EU Commission President speaks of historic agreement

Swiss Politics

EU Commission president says Swiss-EU deal is ‘historic’ agreement

Photo of a woman looking into a microscope

Science

Swiss researchers can apply for EU grants again

Swiss Politics

The Swiss are deeply divided over relations with the EU

By Balz Rigendinger

Swiss midwife responds to call for aid from Gaza

This content was published on Dec 21, 2024 Drones, conflict, and new life: Swiss midwife Tamara Bonc describes what it’s like to work in the Red Cross Field Hospital in Rafah.

Ubersitz, the utterly unique – and deafening – Swiss custom

This content was published on Dec 21, 2024 At the end of the year the villages around Meiringen pump up the volume and bizarre characters celebrate the ancient tradition of Ubersitz.

Daulatdia: breaking the cycle of sexual exploitation in Bangladeshi brothel

This content was published on Dec 20, 2024 Bangladesh is home to one of the world’s largest brothels. For the daughters of prostitutes, the path to sexual exploitation is often predetermined.

The Week in Switzerland

This content was published on Dec 21, 2024 Years of negotiations with the European Union were concluded on Friday.

A ‘no’ vote forecast for the ‘environmental responsibility’ initiative

This content was published on Dec 20, 2024 With the campaign barely underway, almost half of Swiss residents and expats polled are unconvinced.

How will the Swiss vote on February 9, 2025?

This content was published on Dec 20, 2024 The initiative for ‘environmental responsibility’ is essential for the left, but too radical for the right and business circles.

Teaser Swiss Solidarity collection campaign

Tackling Child Abuse in Switzerland and worldwide

This content was published on Dec 16, 2024 Click here to go to the Swiss Solidarity collection campaign.

Recent stories for the Swiss Abroad community

Swiss Abroad

How Swiss festive bad boy Schmutzli cleaned up his act

Once upon a time, a mysterious dark-faced figure would enter Swiss homes on December 6, beating and (briefly) abducting children into behaving better. Schmutzli needed an image makeover.

By Thomas Stephens

Swiss Politics

‘Parliamentarians are constantly campaigning’

By Samuel Jaberg

Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter (left) talks to Senator Pierre-Yves Maillard in parliament in Bern on March 14, 2024.

Swiss Politics

What’s coming up in the Swiss parliament’s 2024 winter session

By Balz Rigendinger

Swiss Abroad

Taxes on pension payments: no problem for the Swiss Abroad

By Balz Rigendinger

Swiss Oddities

Ubersitz, the utterly unique – and deafening – Swiss custom

This content was published on Dec 21, 2024 At the end of the year the villages around Meiringen pump up the volume and bizarre characters celebrate the ancient tradition of Ubersitz.

Switzerland, the promised land of coats of arms

This content was published on Dec 14, 2024 Most Swiss families have a coat of arms. This may come as a surprise abroad, where heraldry is often the preserve of nobility.

How Swiss festive bad boy Schmutzli cleaned up his act

This content was published on Dec 7, 2024 Once upon a time, a mysterious dark-faced figure would enter Swiss homes on December 6, beating and (briefly) abducting children into behaving better. Schmutzli needed an image makeover.

The CHF1,000 dance of death and other unforgettable Swiss banknotes

This content was published on Nov 30, 2024 The Swiss National Bank puts a lot of thought into the design of its banknotes, some of which really grabbed the public’s imagination.

Hornussen, the Swiss national sport with a sting

This content was published on Nov 23, 2024 The Swiss sport of Hornussen invariably generates stunned reactions from people seeing it for the first time.

An alphorn player in traditional costume on a meadow overlooking Lake Lucerne.

In search of the ‘authentic’ Swiss musical instrument

This content was published on Nov 16, 2024 The alphorn is the most emblematic instrument in Swiss folklore, but not necessarily the most authentic.

Heard the one about the Swiss company installing laugh detectors?

This content was published on Nov 9, 2024 A Swiss insurer is testing the frequency of laughter in an office to improve job satisfaction. Workers who don’t laugh enough are sent an email with a funny video.

Gold-digging: why some Swiss bury their wealth in the garden

This content was published on Nov 2, 2024 The Swiss sometimes keep their gold in surprising places.

When a Roman emperor risks falling from his pedestal

This content was published on Oct 26, 2024 Almost 85 years after its discovery, the identity of the golden bust from Avenches remains a mystery.

The surprising boom of Switzerland’s least-loved coin

This content was published on Oct 19, 2024 Switzerland’s five-centime/Rappen coin is one of the least popular coins in Swiss wallets, so why is the number in circulation shooting up?

The Swiss metal detectorist who helped find a Roman military camp

This content was published on Oct 2, 2024 Self-taught archaeologist Romano Agola talks about life as a detectorist and the “treasure hunter” phenomenon in Switzerland.

The pieces in the "Mechanical Marvels" exhibition at the Maison de la Mécanique d'Art in Geneva illustrate the art of the automatier in a simple and playful way.

Sainte-Croix: the Swiss village that keeps the tradition of automata alive

This content was published on Oct 5, 2024 The “Mechanical Marvels” exhibition at the Maison de la Mécanique d’Art in Geneva showcases automata and the work of mechanical artists from the Swiss village of Sainte-Croix.

The Ticino palm falls victim to its atypical reproduction

This content was published on Sep 28, 2024 It has given southern Switzerland a tropical feel but the authorities have banned its sale.

A Swiss Ig Nobel laureate talks about side effects and placebo effects

This content was published on Sep 21, 2024 SWI swissinfo.ch speaks to the Swiss laureate of the 2024 Ig Nobel prize for medicine, who explains how his “winning” study is far from irrelevant.

‘That mummy is my great-grandfather’

This content was published on Sep 14, 2024 Former Swiss diplomat Claudio Mazzucchelli tells the incredible story of the discovery in Egypt of the mummy of his illustrious great-grandfather.

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Swiss Film Selection

SWI swissinfo.ch offers a selection of Swiss films in English chosen from the Swiss streaming platform Play Suisse.

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“Let’s Talk” is SWI swissinfo.ch’s format to discuss relevant topics with high-profile experts and political figures.

Special reports

Check out our long format stories on topics like the Swiss pharma industry, Switzerland’s struggles with dirty gold, and living in the Alps.

Switzerland: How To

How do you dispose of rubbish in Switzerland? What are the visa requirements? It’s all here.

Join the conversation

We’d love to hear what you think about what’s going on in the world. You can find all of our debate questions here.

Parliament votes to ban Shia militia Hezbollah in Switzerland

This content was published on Dec 17, 2024 Swiss lawmakers want to ban the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah in addition to the Palestinian organisation Hamas.

Syria needs more "immediate humanitarian aid

UN envoy to Syria calls for ‘immediate humanitarian aid’

This content was published on Dec 15, 2024 According to UN estimates, over a million people have been displaced since the rebel offensive aimed at ousting Bashar al-Assad.

A woman waves an Syrian opposition flag in celebration days after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government in Damascus, on December 12, 2024.

Swiss justice minister discusses plight of Syrian migrants in Brussels

This content was published on Dec 13, 2024 Swiss Justice Minister Beat Jans met his European counterparts in Brussels on Thursday to discuss the situation of Syrian asylum-seekers in Europe. Jans called for coordinated action by European states.

Gaza has been at the centre of conflict since the 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas

Switzerland supports UN Gaza ceasefire resolution

This content was published on Dec 12, 2024 Switzerland votes in favour of a UN resolution calling for lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of the hostage.

Hamas fighters celebrate the massacre of Israelis on 7 October 2023.

What does banning Hamas mean for neutral Switzerland?

This content was published on Dec 11, 2024 Is Swiss foreign policy harmed if the neutral country bans Hamas? No, says parliament.

Parliament endorses five-year ban on Hamas

Swiss parliament approves a five-year ban on Hamas

This content was published on Dec 11, 2024 Hamas will become a banned group in Switzerland for five years.

SEM: suspension of asylum procedures affects 500 Syrians in Switzerland

About 500 Syrians affected by Swiss asylum freeze

This content was published on Dec 11, 2024 The suspension of asylum procedures decided Monday following the fall of Bashar al-Assad affects 500 Syrian applicants in Switzerland.

SEM suspends asylum procedure for asylum seekers from Syria

Swiss suspend decisions on asylum-seekers from Syria

This content was published on Dec 10, 2024 Asylum procedures and decisions for asylum-seekers from Syria will be suspended with immediate effect until the situation can be reassessed, the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) said.

Syrians in Switzerland celebrate ousting of Assad

This content was published on Dec 9, 2024 The Syrian exile community in Switzerland has reacted with joy to the fall of the Assad regime.

Assad's fall: Switzerland calls for reconciliation in Syria

Fall of Assad: Switzerland calls for reconciliation in Syria

This content was published on Dec 9, 2024 Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, the Swiss foreign ministry has called on all parties to protect civilians and respect international humanitarian law.

Millions of civilians have been caught up in the Syrian civil war

Red Cross urges protection for Syrian civilians

This content was published on Dec 8, 2024 The International Committee of the Red Cross has called on warring parties in Syria to respect the rights of civilians caught up in the conflict.

Amnesty calls on Switzerland to exert pressure on Israel

This content was published on Dec 5, 2024 Non-governmental organisation Amnesty International is calling on Switzerland to exert public pressure on Israel.

Switzerland to host Middle East conference on international humanitarian law

This content was published on Dec 5, 2024 The conference, planned for March, is likely to have a considerable political impact, notably on an arms embargo against Israel.

Syrian opposition fighters stand on a seized Syrian army armoured vehicle on the outskirts of Hama, Syria, 3, December 2024.

Switzerland demands immediate halt to hostilities in Syria

This content was published on Dec 4, 2024 The Swiss foreign ministry has called for an immediate end to hostilities in Syria. International humanitarian law must be respected, it declared via the social media platform X on Tuesday.

Switzerland expresses concern about the situation in Syria

Switzerland concerned about situation in Syria

This content was published on Dec 2, 2024 Switzerland is concerned about the escalation of hostilities in Syria. It calls on all parties to respect international law and protect the civilian population.

Have you heard something about Swiss diplomacy that you’d like us to fact check?

Not all information circulating about Switzerland’s foreign relations is accurate or well understood. Tell us what you’d like us to fact check or clarify.

Join the discussion

Dec 18, 2024

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‘Parliamentarians are constantly campaigning’

This content was published on Dec 4, 2024 One year after Swiss national elections, are parliamentarians still in tune with the people and are they defending the interests of the Swiss Abroad?

The 10 Million initiative: putting a cap on immigration.

Putting the brakes on immigration in Switzerland

This content was published on Dec 2, 2024 The right-wing Swiss People’s Party has launched an initiative to stop the Swiss population exceeding 10 million people.

The rocky relationship between Switzerland and the European Union

This content was published on Nov 26, 2024 The Swiss president, Viola Amherd, would like to seal a deal by the end of the year to update relations with the European Union.

How the poorest country in Europe is integrating 120,000 Ukrainian refugees

This content was published on Nov 25, 2024 No country has taken in as many Ukrainian refugees relative to its population as the Republic of Moldova.

Reactions to ‘no’ vote on Swiss motorway expansion project

This content was published on Nov 24, 2024 On Sunday, a majority of Swiss voters (52.7%) rejected a CHF5 billion government plan to extend key stretches of the motorway network.

Motorway expansion vote: ‘We need to rethink the way we travel’

This content was published on Nov 14, 2024 Should Switzerland widen part of its motorway network? The two guests in our Let’s Talk debate discuss the proposal on which voters will decide on November 24.

Does Switzerland need bigger motorways?

This content was published on Nov 5, 2024 The Swiss are about to vote on a government plan to add lanes to six stretches of the country’s A1 motorway. The referendum will be held on November 24, 2024.

Lift off! Swiss students build next-gen reusable rockets

This content was published on Oct 10, 2024 Rocket-building used to be the sole preserve of space-faring nations like the United States or Russia. Now many other players are getting involved from private companies to young researchers, even from Switzerland.

Breaking menstruation taboos in West Africa

This content was published on Oct 7, 2024 Over 300 million girls and women worldwide menstruate every day, yet in West Africa the topic remains taboo. Some NGOs are trying to change local attitudes to periods.

Fish stocks hit by warming lakes. Climate change seems partly to blame.

Fish species are disappearing as Swiss lakes warm up

This content was published on Sep 26, 2024 As temperatures climb in Switzerland, Swiss lakes, fish species and their natural habitat are also suffering. A look at the impact on Lake Geneva.

Biodiversity initiative: Reactions to the rejection

This content was published on Sep 22, 2024 Our reporters, Zeno Zoccatelli and Christian Raaflaub, have been speaking to both the initiative committee and the group opposing the referendum.

A popular initiative demanding greater living choices for people with disabilities in Switzerland has collected enough signatures for a national vote.

A better way to live for the disabled in Switzerland?

This content was published on Sep 18, 2024 A popular initiative demanding greater living choices for people with disabilities in Switzerland has collected enough signatures for a national vote.

Computer-generated image of the planned SedrunSolar park in canton Graubünden in southeastern Switzerland.

Construction starts on first large-scale solar park in Swiss Alps

This content was published on Sep 13, 2024 The first major solar project under the federal government’s “Solar Express” scheme is being built near the mountain village of Sedrun in southeast Switzerland.

Should the Swiss invest more in biodiversity?

This content was published on Sep 9, 2024 The Swiss will be voting on a biodiversity initiative on 22 September. It seeks to give nature more space and resources but is considered too extreme by its opponents.

Biodiversity initiative: ‘We don’t want parts of the country sealed off’

This content was published on Sep 9, 2024 Better protection for nature or more headaches for farmers? Two politicians discuss the biodiversity initiative in our ‘Let’s Talk’ series.

External Content

Bloomberg Business

This content was published on Dec 20, 2024 – 22:54

Stocks, Bonds Decline for the Week After Fed Pivot: Markets Wrap

This content was published on Dec 20, 2024 – 18:03

Swiss Bank Watchdog Blundered on Credit Suisse, Report Finds

This content was published on Dec 20, 2024 – 18:00

Billionaire Drahi Moves Residency to Israel From Switzerland

This content was published on Dec 20, 2024 – 17:08

UBS Mulls Job Cuts In France on Weak Economy, CS Integration

This content was published on Dec 20, 2024 – 15:24

Swiss Agree EU Deal, Rebuilding Ties After 2021 Breakdown

This content was published on Dec 20, 2024 – 10:13

Nestle Investor Says Stock Too Cheap After Worst Year on Record

This content was published on Dec 19, 2024 – 22:53

Stocks Fail to Recover From Fed-Fueled Selloff: Markets Wrap

This content was published on Dec 19, 2024 – 18:00

BTG, Santander Said in Talks to Buy Julius Baer Brazil Unit

This content was published on Dec 19, 2024 – 17:44

European Shares Fall as Fed Turns Hawkish on Rates Outlook

This content was published on Dec 19, 2024 – 17:03

US Wheat Extends Losses as Strong Dollar Clouds Export Outlook

This content was published on Dec 19, 2024 – 09:20

Swiss Watch Exports Drop in November as Demand Slump Widens

This content was published on Dec 18, 2024 – 23:27

S&P 500 Sees Worst Fed Day Since 2001; Yields Up: Markets Wrap

This content was published on Dec 18, 2024 – 16:58

Glencore in Talks to Sell Its Philippine Copper Smelting Unit

This content was published on Dec 18, 2024 – 12:39

Swiss Re Among Firms in $3 Billion Credit-Risk Deal for IFC

This content was published on Dec 17, 2024 – 22:43

Stocks Drop Before Fed’s Last Decision of the Year: Markets Wrap

This content was published on Dec 17, 2024 – 17:48

UBS Wins Legal Case Over Private Banker Defections in Spain

This content was published on Dec 17, 2024 – 14:27

Eastern Europe Sidesteps Global Shift Toward Monetary Easing

This content was published on Dec 17, 2024 – 12:51

PE Firms Hoping to Cash Out in IPOs Mull Creative Debt Fixes

This content was published on Dec 17, 2024 – 09:17

Swiss Steel Aid Draws Closer in Break From Hands-Off Policy

This content was published on Dec 17, 2024 – 09:00

Swiss Government Sees Lower Inflation Next Year Despite Rate Cut

Illustration of a Christmas tree over a snowy background

Swiss Films advent calendar

This content was published on Dec 21, 2024 In the run-up to Christmas, we’re presenting one film every day from our Swiss Films selection.

Switzerland and UNRWA: timeline of a rocky relationship

This content was published on Dec 19, 2024 Switzerland is considering ending its funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees – the latest chapter in the country’s turbulent history with the agency.

AI regulations must strike a balance between innovation and safety

This content was published on Dec 19, 2024 What risks do citizens face in countries where artificial intelligence (AI) is not regulated, like Switzerland?

With gang violence and child marriage, childhood is short in Rohingya refugee camps

This content was published on Dec 18, 2024 More than a million Rohingya live in refugee camps in Bangladesh. The refugees from Myanmar have hardly any prospects.

Escaping poverty through education: child labour in Bangladesh

This content was published on Dec 17, 2024 Bangladesh’s progress in combating child labour is under threat. A report from a coastal town in the south of the country.

How a Swiss musician is lending a hand to people in Ukraine

This content was published on Dec 18, 2024 Originally travelling to Ukraine because of the Maidan protests, Bänz Margot has been setting up an aid organisation there since the beginning of the Russian invasion.

Switzerland, the promised land of coats of arms

This content was published on Dec 14, 2024 Most Swiss families have a coat of arms. This may come as a surprise abroad, where heraldry is often the preserve of nobility.

Flames and smoke rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns

The Swiss sawmill that helped resurrect Notre-Dame’s spire

This content was published on Dec 7, 2024 The oak wood cut by a Swiss firm was used to rebuild the cathedral’s spire, which burnt down five years ago.

Although considered the most futuristic of art forms, VR technology is still primitive.

Nothing is possible: Swiss animator explores the limits of virtual reality

This content was published on Dec 1, 2024 Our critic visited the ART*VR festival in Prague to assess the recent global output and how the Swiss are faring in it.

Jean Tinguely’s whimsical contraptions return to Milan for centenary showcase

This content was published on Nov 29, 2024 A major exhibition in Milan opens the celebrations for the centenary of Jean Tinguely with 40 sculptures produced between the 1950s and 1990s by the pioneer of kinetic art.

How Irish pop star Bambie Thug became the face of a Swiss referendum on Eurovision

This content was published on Nov 24, 2024 While choosing the host city was an incredibly slow process, a referendum to reverse the decision moved at double speed.

Hornussen, the Swiss national sport with a sting

This content was published on Nov 23, 2024 The Swiss sport of Hornussen invariably generates stunned reactions from people seeing it for the first time.

"Untitled" (1979), by Verena Loewensberg. One of the pioneers of Concrete art, the artist has long been in the shadow of his (male) peers, more savy in self-promotion. Loewensberg's oeuvre is finally being 'rediscovered'.

From Dada to Concrete Art: when Zurich was a modernist battleground

This content was published on Nov 20, 2024 A new book about the pioneers of Concretism fills a gap in the history of the most internationally influential Swiss art movement of the 20th century.

In Focus

Moldova: A small neutral country at the crossroads between the EU and Russia

Switzerland is committed to democracy education and the integration of Ukrainians in Moldova.

What does the future hold for Swiss neutrality?

Switzerland is grappling with a key question: should it follow a path of openness or isolationism?

Why melting glaciers affect us all

Alpine glaciers could disappear by the end of the century. The consequences will be felt not only in the Swiss Alps but throughout Europe.

Sister republics: Switzerland and the US

The US and Switzerland were known as “sister republics”. Explore the links that still bind these two very dissimilar countries.

Swiss federal votes on September 22, 2024

Biodiversity and pensions are on the agenda for the federal votes on September 22.

Taiwan: a model democracy

Taiwan has developed into an exemplary democracy. This can be seen in schools as well as in election campaigns – despite or because of its precarious status.

Swiss federal votes on June 9

Two initiatives aimed at stemming healthcare costs took centre stage when voters went to the polls on June 9.

illustration depicting federal voting in Switzerland.

Federal votes on March 3, 2024

Pension reform is once again at the heart of Swiss politics. On March 3, voters will decide on two people’s initiatives from opposing camps.

The key ingredients of the Swiss financial sector

Switzerland’s fabled financial sector is made up of several crucial elements.

illustration: sport washing the world cup

Sportswashing the World Cup from Geneva

This three-part investigation shows the lengths to which Qatar went to whitewash its reputation and the role Geneva played in this marketing stunt.

The ethics of artificial intelligence

The challenges are immense for Switzerland, which is one of the leading developers of artificial intelligence (AI).

Important members of the Swiss-Kosovan diaspora

Kosovo in Switzerland, Switzerland in Kosovo

The two small mountain countries are linked by a dense network of relationships: political, economic, historical, but above all human.

Swiss solutions for storing the energy of tomorrow

The global challenge is not only to produce more energy from renewable sources, but also to store it efficiently and sustainably.

A global stress test for freedom of expression

One of democracy’s fundamental pillars is under attack, and under scrutiny, across the world.

What was on the agenda for voters on June 18, 2023

Tax rules for multinationals, carbon neutrality, Covid prevention measures: it was a clear “yes” to all three issues on the ballot on June 18.

a girl holds up a sign with "girl power" written on it,

Are initiatives to combat gender-based violence having an impact?

This content was published on Nov 29, 2024 Authorities and civil society are looking for ways to deal with gender-based violence. Are these initiatives having an impact? Join the discussion.

The Swiss have embraced AI at record speed

This content was published on Nov 21, 2024 A new study shows that half of the Swiss population uses AI but the technology is also increasing digital inequality.

Woman sitting looking over the Aletsch glacier

Most Swiss doubt politicians’ ability to deal with climate change

This content was published on Nov 18, 2024 Two-thirds of Swiss believe global warming is a serious problem. However, only about a third thinks Swiss politicians can take sufficient measures on the issue.

Few people are sitting on the benches in a catholic church.

Poll finds over half of Swiss residents don’t believe in God

This content was published on Nov 15, 2024 More than half of people in Switzerland who took part in a recent survey say they do not believe in God.

Hard drugs: does prohibition sometimes do more harm than good?

This content was published on Nov 1, 2024 How can the growing consumption of crack cocaine in Switzerland be tackled? And what support can be provided to addicts? Join in the discussion!

Broken picture frame with an image of a woman with a child. - Picture frame, child, woman, shattered.

Fighting paedophile crime: What is the right balance between prevention and punishment?

This content was published on Oct 25, 2024 To fight paedophilia-related crimes, vigilante justice can take on a radical form. Fair or foul?

A customer sits behind his full shopping trolley and looks at his mobile phone

Cost-of-living crisis: only a minority of Swiss say they feel the pinch

This content was published on Oct 24, 2024 Around one-third of Swiss residents and the Swiss Abroad say their financial situation is a strain, while four out of five believe the wealth gap in Switzerland is too wide, a new survey shows.

Young person holding a cigarette in their hand.

New Swiss tobacco law: are minors sufficiently protected?

This content was published on Oct 3, 2024 Are minors in Switzerland sufficiently protected from the risks of tobacco consumption? Join the multilingual debate on “dialogue”!

Hunting: where two visions of nature clash

This content was published on Sep 19, 2024 It’s the hunting season again in Switzerland. Hunting is a well-established tradition in rural and mountain regions in Switzerland, but it also sparks criticism.

A smartphone with the APP of social networks Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin, Mastodon and X is pictured in Lausanne, Switzerland, Tuesday, September 12, 2023.(KEYSTONE/Laurent Gillieron)

Poll: Swiss are fed up with social media

This content was published on Sep 12, 2024 According to the latest figures, social media is being used less. One of the reasons: the platforms are no longer truly social.

Das Bundeshaus in Bern, aufgenommen bei starkem Wind

Poll: Switzerland is rather sceptical about the future

This content was published on Sep 5, 2024 Overall, people in Switzerland and the Swiss Abroad are doing well. But they are more pessimistic about the future than they were a year ago.

Poll: Swiss Abroad pensioners are enthusiastic while workers struggle

This content was published on Sep 5, 2024 Swiss pensioners abroad are generally happy with their lives but Swiss nationals who live and work overseas are less satisfied than the average citizen.

A man takes a prototype of the new insurance certificate of the AHV-IV (AHV: Federal old-age and bereaved people insurance/IV: Disabled people insurance) out of his wallet

‘Dialogue’: should the 2022 vote on the Swiss pension system be re-run?

This content was published on Aug 15, 2024 After news of miscalculated financial forecasts on the pension system, left-wingers want a re-run of a 2022 vote. What’s your opinion? Join the discussion on “dialogue”!

Waiter dressed in black in a restaurant in Zurich,

The ‘dialogue’ community wants to know: do we need a four-day work week?

This content was published on Aug 9, 2024 Should Switzerland introduce a four-day work week? Learn more about the topic with a selection of multimedia content and join the discussion.

People watch the fireworks during the Swiss National Day celebrations in Nyon on Monday 1 August 2022.

Swiss National Day: should fireworks for private individuals be banned?

This content was published on Aug 1, 2024 Many Swiss celebrate Swiss National Day on August 1 with fireworks. But the topic is controversial.

A nurse holding the hand of an elderly woman in a nursing home.

Assisted suicide: death with dignity or ethical dilemma?

This content was published on Jul 29, 2024 Assisted suicide is considered a controversial and personal topic. Does it mean death with dignity, or does it inevitably lead to an ethical dilemma?

Dr. Fernando Taveras, a psychiatrist and Hispanic mental healthcare expert with SOMOS Community Care Clinic, holds a model of a brain as he stands for a portrait in New York on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Mental health experts, community clinics and politicians are working to create new programs to break down barriers that Latinos might face to getting therapy or treatment.

Is Switzerland in a mental health crisis?

This content was published on Jul 19, 2024 Mental health has shifted more into focus in Switzerland, and the latest figures confirm an increase in mental illness.

Participating in democracy, a challenge for the Swiss Abroad

This content was published on Jul 12, 2024 Should the Swiss Abroad have more political influence in Switzerland? Join the discussion on “dialogue”.

Tourists wait with their cars for free parking spaces at the church car park, on Sunday, 19 May 2024 in Lauterbrunnen in the Bernese Oberland. The holiday resort of Lauterbrunnen wants to introduce an entrance fee for day tourists travelling by car. Like many other tourist resorts around the world, the municipality in the Bernese Oberland struggles with large streams of tourists.

Mass tourism in Switzerland: beneficial or detrimental?

This content was published on Jul 5, 2024 While some see tourism in Switzerland as a welcome boost, others are concerned about too many tourists in certain regions.

Primary school class 1c pictured during a double science and reading lesson at the schoolhouse Vinci, Public School Suhr, Canton of Aargau, Switzerland, on June 25, 2018. The Public School Suhr consists of kindergartens, primary schools and senior classes. (KEYSTONE/Christian Beutler)

Inclusive schools: beneficial for all?

This content was published on Jun 28, 2024 Inclusive schools, where children with disabilities are enrolled in regular schools, have been an issue of debate in Switzerland for several years.