‘The inheritance tax initiative definitely stirred things up in Switzerland’
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Swiss voters have resoundingly rejected two people’s initiatives. Corina Schena, a political scientist from gfs.bern, provides some clues as to why.
Why calls to ‘tax the rich’ are loud, popular – and rarely successful
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The idea of clamping down on the rich often enjoys large public support. In practice, it rarely succeeds – even when citizens can vote directly on it. Why not?
Reactions to the ‘No’ vote on the inheritance tax initiative
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Swissinfo gathered reactions from both supporters and opponents of the proposal and asked how the clear result should be interpreted.
November 30, 2025 votes: the results from across Switzerland
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The Swiss electorate are deciding whether to introduce a civic service for all and whether to impose inheritance tax to combat global warming. You can find all the results here.
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The Swiss have overwhelmingly voted against both a proposal for a new tax on big inheritances and a call for all citizens to perform civic duty in Sunday’s polls.
Civic duty and inheritance tax initiatives face ballot box defeats in Switzerland
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A majority of Swiss voters look set to reject the civic duty and inheritance tax initiatives on November 30, according to a poll.
Explainer: Switzerland’s inheritance-tax initiative to save climate
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On November 30, Switzerland will vote on an initiative calling for a new tax on big inheritances – in order to finance climate action.
Swiss divisions highlighted by vote on imputed rental-value tax
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A battle is being waged between property owners and tenants over imputed rental value. But there are several other conflicting issues.
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Living outside Switzerland doesn’t mean losing your right to vote. Yet only a small percentage of Swiss citizens living abroad actually cast their ballots. Here’s a short guide on how to vote from abroad.
How Switzerland’s political system of direct democracy works
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Together with neutrality and federalism, direct democracy is a part of the Swiss national identity and helps unite the various languages, religions and cultures in the country. This video gives you a short introduction to this unique political system. (Produced by swissinfo.ch on behalf of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad)Please note: This video was made in 2011. The political landscape has changed and the numbers are no longer representative. For more recent figures go to the Democracy Barometer project page.
Voting from abroad: How to register for Swiss elections
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Switzerland grants voting rights to its citizens living abroad. If you want to exercise your voting rights, you must first get on the electoral register.
