On the rocks? Switzerland's seven government ministers on their annual excursion in June. This year they visited the Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen.
Keystone/gaetan Bally
Only 50% of Swiss are satisfied with the country’s seven-person government, the Federal Council. This figure was 15 percentage points higher at the end of 2021.
Since then not only the Federal Council as a whole but also the individual Federal Councillors have lost popularity, according to a surveyExternal link published on Monday by Tamedia newspapers and 20 Minuten.
Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, who also holds the rotating Swiss presidency this year, remains the least popular minister. Interior Minister Alain Berset, who is in charge of the health ministry, remains at the top of the class, despite negative headlines in recent months.
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Switzerland’s Alain Berset is no Teflon man
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Switzerland loves a good summer scandal. And once again, it involves cabinet minister Alain Berset.
Notably the two ministers involved with the country’s precarious energy situation, Economics Minister Guy Parmelin and Energy Minister Simonetta Sommaruga, have lost popularity.
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Swiss minister urges calm over energy shortage fears
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The threat of energy shortages should not be over-dramatised, says Swiss Economics Minister.
Parliament has also lost around ten percentage points in terms of satisfaction since December 2021. In mid-August, when the survey was carried out, 46% of respondents said they were still satisfied or relatively satisfied with the work of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
There was also little enthusiasm for the political composition of the seven-person cabinet. Only 18% of respondents backed the current permutation, in which the three largest parties have two ministers each and the fifth-largest party (The Centre) has one. The fourth-largest party, the Greens, are not represented in government. However, all the other compositions proposed in the survey received even lower ratings.
More than 26,000 people were interviewed for the representative survey in mid-August.
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Swiss government seen as lacking team spirit
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A survey finds most Swiss (64%) believe members of the Federal Council do not work well together.
PrimeEnergy Cleantech declared bankrupt by Swiss authorities
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PrimeEnergy Cleantech has been officially declared bankrupt, the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce (Fosc) reported on Monday.
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The consumption of antibiotics has risen in Switzerland since the Covid-19 pandemic. However, compared to other European countries the Alpine country has one of the lowest levels of antibiotic usage.
Swiss financial watchdog foresees greater uncertainty due to geopolitics
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The Swiss financial sector will face greater uncertainty due to the numerous geopolitical conflicts around the world, warns the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).
Swiss museums to mark centenary of death of painter Félix Vallotton
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In 2025 Swiss museums will celebrate the centenary of the death of painter Félix Vallotton (1865-1925). A major retrospective is planned in Lausanne, his birthplace, in autumn.
Russian mission installs more ‘spy’ antennas in Geneva, claims Swiss TV report
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Russian spies are strengthening their presence in Geneva, according to a report by Swiss public television, RTS. Russian officials have placed new satellite dishes on their diplomatic buildings without authorisation.
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Switzerland must join NATO, as in the future it cannot rely on its long-standing tradition of neutrality for its defence, John Bolton, Donald Trump's former national security adviser, declared in an interview on Sunday.
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A demonstration was held in Geneva on Sunday calling for an immediate end to the war in Ukraine. Around 50 Russians took part in the gathering outside the UN building.
Swiss cantons have killed 39 wolves so far this autumn
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In mid-November, 35 packs of three or more wolves were detected in Switzerland. At least eight of them may be eliminated during the current hunting season. So far, at least 39 wolves have been shot in Graubünden, Valais, Vaud and St. Gallen.
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Pierre-Yves Maillard, president of the Swiss Trade Union Confederation, sees no agreement in sight in negotiations with the European Union.
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The political equation based on a magic formula
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How many seats are there in the Swiss cabinet? The answer is seven. But how does Switzerland do the math to reach that figure?
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