Switzerland today

Greetings from Bern,

are you satisfied with your life? Most Swiss seem to be if you believe annual Generation Barometer survey. But look closer and you see a different picture behind the happy façade.

The over 35s are loving life while Generation Z is pessimistic. The rising cost of living caused by inflation and the energy crisis are also creating divisions.

This content was published on February 1, 2023 - 18:00

2 minutes

Swissinfo.ch's India specialist covers a wide range of issues from bilateral relations to Bollywood. He also knows a thing or two about Swiss watchmaking and is partial to the French-speaking part of Switzerland. 

In the news: Satisfaction survey, counterfeit goods, siren time, climate case

The annual Generation Barometer surveyExternal link was published today. The survey also shows that while the Swiss population is generally happier after Covid-19 restrictions were lifted last spring, younger people remain pessimistic. The gap between rich and poor was cited as the biggest cause of division in Swiss society.
Trade in counterfeit goods and pirated copies is a major problem for small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) in Switzerland, a global report shows. The Alpine nation came second behind American SMEs with the watch industry especially affected.
A court case filed by inhabitants of Pari Island in Indonesia is making waves in the Swiss mediaExternal link today. The target is the world’s biggest cement producer, Holcim, that is blamed for historical CO2 emissions and their contribution to rising sea levels. The case was officially submitted to the Zug cantonal court on Monday. However, Swissinfo was ahead of the curve and covered the campaign and legal proceedings in depth in July last year.
Today is the day when emergency sirens around Switzerland are tested. At 1.30 p.m., around 5,000 fixed and 2,200 mobile sirens will sound the alarm. This year, information on the siren test is also available in UkrainianExternal link to prevent startling refugees who have fled war.

Culture corner: Legends live on

Switzerland has a rich and varied folklore tradition, packed with ghosts, devils, witches and dragons. One such tale is the Devil’s Bridge, or Teufelsbrücke, which spans the Schöllenen Gorge in the Reuss valley in canton Uri. Legend has it that it was so hard to build the bridge that desperate townsfolk enlisted the help of the devil, who in return demanded the soul of the first person to cross it.

The Swiss seem intent on keeping such legends alive in the many folklore festivals that pepper the social calendar. Find out which ones survive even today.