Several hundred refugees and sympathizers demonstrated on Thursday 5 July 2018 through the old town of Lucerne under the motto "I am also a human being".
Keystone
The attitude of the Swiss population towards refugees has developed positively since 2002 and intergenerational solidarity is strong in the Alpine nation.
These are the main conclusions of the latest edition of the European Social Survey, published on Thursday. The survey covered 23 European countries, including 1,525 people in Switzerland interviewed between September 2016 and February 2017.
In 2016, 36% of Swiss respondents backed a generous approach to asylum seekers, compared with only 22% in 2002. Around a third were in favour of a restrictive policy in 2016 and 29% had no opinion. In comparison, half of those questioned in 2002 were against a generous asylum policy.
The number of Swiss who believe refugees were not really threatened in their home country declined. In 2016, a third believed refugees faced real threats in their place of origin. Only a quarter found the threat claims of refugees credible in 2002. Once an asylum seeker has been formally recognized as a refugee by the authorities, 53% of the Swiss surveyed believed the person’s family should be allowed to come to Switzerland. In 2012, 56% opposed family reunification.
More
More
A seat at Switzerland’s table
This content was published on
When cooking and sharing food is part of fitting into Swiss life.
For immigrants, a clear majority (77%) supported equal rights to social benefits in Switzerland. However, just over half felt that immigrants should have worked in Switzerland for at least one year and paid taxes before receiving social support.
The views of the Swiss population reflected solidarity with different age groups but little tolerance for the unemployed. The majority (69%) felt the government should ensure an adequate standard of living for older people, while 56% wanted to see sufficient childcare solutions for working parents.
In contrast, only 47% supported the idea that the unemployed should live adequately; 10% were opposed to the notion and the remaining 43% were undecided. However, the majority supported state programmes to help the unemployed join the workforce.
The Swiss do not support a basic universal income. According to the survey, only the Norwegians were more strongly opposed to this than the Swiss.
Young and old in solidarity
The survey also found intergeneration solidarity to be strong in Switzerland. In the 15-34 age bracket, three-quarters of those polled were convinced that the state should guarantee an adequate standard of living for the elderly. Most in this younger generation favoured stronger childcare provision outside the family (67%).
The over-65 also supported the strengthening of childcare and the securing of a livelihood in old age, but to a lesser extent.
The Swiss Centre of Expertise in the Social Sciences and the University of Lausanne are responsible for the Swiss component of the European Social Survey. Since 2002, the survey has been conducted every two years with a representative sample of people over 15 years of age. Solidarity and the welfare state was one of the focal points in 2016.
What do you think Switzerland’s Alain Berset can bring to the Council of Europe?
The former interior minister is to become the first Swiss Secretary General of the Council of Europe – which issues should his five-year term focus on?
How is your country dealing with the return of stolen artifacts?
Western nations like Switzerland often have to deal with the process of recovering or returning looted artifacts which have been illegally imported. What’s the situation like in your country?
At Zurich rally, calls for Swiss “solidarity cities” and safe routes
This content was published on
Over 3,000 people demonstrated in Zurich calling for safe routes for refugees, decriminalization of sea rescues, and the establishment of solidarity cities in Switzerland.
Swiss youth more concerned about pensions than immigration
This content was published on
A total of 53% of Swiss youth surveyed claimed they are worried about their pensions, compared to 41% last year. Immigration, which preoccupied almost half those surveyed last year, only registered as a concern among 29% surveyed this year. Swiss youngsters are more optimistic when it came to the job market. Only 34% felt that…
Swiss justice minister sees positive signs in EU migration deal
This content was published on
“The strengthening of the EU’s external borders must not lead to a closure of borders to refugees,” said Sommaruga on Friday. She said that welcoming those that faced persecution was one of Europe’s fundamental values and Switzerland is committed to not go back on this. The member of the seven-member government also pointed out that…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.