Democracy

Environmental liability initiative rejected by 69.8% of votes cast

Post-vote survey: scant support for environmental responsibility initiative

This content was published on Feb 10, 2025 The Swiss do not want to be restricted by environmental protection.

Three people, seen from below, hold smartphones while standing behind a concrete barrier against a clear blue sky.

Social media fragmentation: do online platforms drown democracy in noise?

This content was published on Feb 10, 2025 With online platforms under pressure and AI set to flood the internet with content, is it all over for the ideal of a harmonious digital public sphere?

Zurich residents don't give their politicians a pay rise

Voters in Zurich reject pay rise for local politicians

This content was published on Feb 9, 2025 Local parliamentarians in Zurich will not receive a pay hike after 53.2% of voters in the city came out against the plan on Sunday.

A visitor looks at a virtual version of her heart at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona 2024.

Digital citizens could shake up democracy in Switzerland and beyond

This content was published on Feb 4, 2025 Leading experts in medicine and business are pinning their hopes on digital twins. Two economists have a bold proposal that could reshape democracy.

January 6, 2021: supporters of Donald Trump break through security and storm into the symbolic heart of US democracy, the Capitol in Washington.

Why some people turn to authoritarianism in the name of freedom

This content was published on Jan 25, 2025 Sociologists Carolin Amlinger and Oliver Nachtwey explain the sometimes surprising origins of a new type of anti-democratic figure.

Experts advise a strategy for dealing with communication platforms

Experts recommend holistic strategy for online platforms

This content was published on Jan 14, 2025 Online platforms such as social networks or search engines influence the formation of public opinion and thus democracy.

Only a few invalid signatures for a ban on animal testing

‘Surprisingly few’ signatures invalid for ban on animal testing

This content was published on Jan 14, 2025 The initiative to ban animal testing was submitted in November with around 127,600 signatures. "Surprisingly few" signatures are not valid, the initiative's organisers have now said.

Swiss votes reveal gender divide

This content was published on Jan 10, 2025 A majority of women rejected all four voting proposals on November 24 – in contrast to men.

Mass-Voll launches referendum against e-ID

Referendum launched against Swiss electronic ID

This content was published on Jan 9, 2025 Voters rejected similar proposals to introduce e-ID in a referendum in 2021.

Daniela Hauser in the ByWard Market district in the Canadian capital Ottawa

Swiss economist grapples with US-Canadian trade relationship

This content was published on Jan 7, 2025 Bern-born Daniela Hauser has to deal with the plans of incoming US President Donald Trump in the Canadian capital Ottawa.