https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed It's been promised before, but now the UK government says it will act to ensure that British citizens living abroad do not lose their right to vote in the UK even if they have been abroad for over 15 years. Here's what we know about the proposals. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210527/what-does-the-uk-governments-pledge-of-votes-for-life-mean-for-brits-living-abroad Thu, 27 May 2021 18:59:05 +0200 what-does-the-uk-governments-pledge-of-votes-for-life-mean-for-brits-living-abroad In September Switzerland will vote on a federal initiative extending paternity leave nationwide. Here’s what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200811/everything-you-need-to-know-about-switzerlands-paternity-leave-referendum Tue, 11 Aug 2020 19:51:17 +0200 everything-you-need-to-know-about-switzerlands-paternity-leave-referendum A "magic formula" means Switzerland has a new president. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200102/switzerland-has-a-new-president-but-you-probably-didnt-notice Thu, 02 Jan 2020 14:55:29 +0100 switzerland-has-a-new-president-but-you-probably-didnt-notice Boris Johnson's resounding victory means nothing will stop Brexit now, writes columnist John Lichfield. But it's still the biggest blunder the UK has ever made and will leave the hundreds of thousands of Brits across Europe feeling like foreigners on February 1st. https://www.thelocal.ch/20191213/opinion-nothing-can-stop-brexit-now Fri, 13 Dec 2019 12:40:22 +0100 opinion-nothing-can-stop-brexit-now Britons in Europe were on Friday having to get used to the idea that "Brexit was happening and nothing was going to stop it now". But they were also urged to look at the positive aspect of the UK election result. https://www.thelocal.ch/20191213/brexit-britons-in-europe-urged-to-look-on-bright-side-of-devastating-uk-election-result Fri, 13 Dec 2019 12:02:05 +0100 brexit-britons-in-europe-urged-to-look-on-bright-side-of-devastating-uk-election-result Despite gaining enough support among the people, the Greens have failed to snag a seat on the Federal Council. The Swiss press has called for an end to the status quo in Swiss politics. https://www.thelocal.ch/20191212/the-magic-formula-is-dead-swiss-papers-react-to-federal-council-election-outcome Thu, 12 Dec 2019 11:35:16 +0100 the-magic-formula-is-dead-swiss-papers-react-to-federal-council-election-outcome Despite the gains made in October’s general election, the Swiss Green Party did not enter government as Switzerland’s ‘magic formula’ for governing held firm. https://www.thelocal.ch/20191211/green-party-fails-to-secure-cabinet-seat-in-swiss-federal-council-election Wed, 11 Dec 2019 16:32:50 +0100 green-party-fails-to-secure-cabinet-seat-in-swiss-federal-council-election On December 11th, Swiss MPs will elect the Federal Council, a seven-member body that acts as the collective head of state. The cabinet will be in place until the next election in 2023. https://www.thelocal.ch/20191211/what-you-need-to-know-about-federal-council-election Wed, 11 Dec 2019 10:20:17 +0100 what-you-need-to-know-about-federal-council-election From marriage equality to new charges on airline tickets, the historic 2019 Swiss election looks likely to bring about a raft of significant changes. https://www.thelocal.ch/20191023/everything-thats-set-to-change-after-the-2019-swiss-election Wed, 23 Oct 2019 13:00:32 +0200 everything-thats-set-to-change-after-the-2019-swiss-election Switzerland holds national elections on Sunday in a vote that could see unprecedented gains for parties demanding bold climate action and a possible slip for the anti-immigrant right-wing. https://www.thelocal.ch/20191020/swiss-vote-in-possible-green-wave-election Sun, 20 Oct 2019 09:49:37 +0200 swiss-vote-in-possible-green-wave-election Voter concern about climate change could trigger a "green wave" in Switzerland's elections on Sunday, possibly yielding unprecedented gains for parties that back bold action to protect the planet. https://www.thelocal.ch/20191017/polls-point-to-green-wave-in-swiss-vote Thu, 17 Oct 2019 11:38:05 +0200 polls-point-to-green-wave-in-swiss-vote From climate change to healthcare costs - or indeed anything else - what are the crucial issues at stake at the October 20 Swiss elections? https://www.thelocal.ch/20191011/have-your-say-what-are-the-most-important-issues-in-next-weeks-swiss-elections Fri, 11 Oct 2019 18:22:24 +0200 have-your-say-what-are-the-most-important-issues-in-next-weeks-swiss-elections Critics argue that the Swiss proportional election system unfairly favours major parties and results in tens of thousands of votes being lost. https://www.thelocal.ch/20191002/calls-for-swiss-electoral-reform-amid-150000-wasted-votes-claim Wed, 02 Oct 2019 16:57:40 +0200 calls-for-swiss-electoral-reform-amid-150000-wasted-votes-claim In the run-up to the Swiss federal election next month, we take a closer look at the parties in the running for power. https://www.thelocal.ch/20190905/elections-2019-a-snapshot-of-switzerlands-major-political-parties Thu, 05 Sep 2019 17:32:57 +0200 elections-2019-a-snapshot-of-switzerlands-major-political-parties The newly elected member of the Swiss government, Ignazio Cassis, will become the country’s foreign minister in November. https://www.thelocal.ch/20170922/new-federal-councillor-cassis-inherits-foreign-ministry Fri, 22 Sep 2017 15:05:35 +0200 new-federal-councillor-cassis-inherits-foreign-ministry Swiss newspapers have reacted positively to the election of Ignazio Cassis as the new member of the Swiss government. https://www.thelocal.ch/20170921/press-welcomes-cassis-election-to-federal-council Thu, 21 Sep 2017 10:58:18 +0200 press-welcomes-cassis-election-to-federal-council The Swiss government has given the green light to two cantons to resume online voting in time for the next set of referendums in September. https://www.thelocal.ch/20170629/two-swiss-cantons-get-the-go-ahead-for-online-voting Thu, 29 Jun 2017 13:07:23 +0200 two-swiss-cantons-get-the-go-ahead-for-online-voting The public prosecutor in the canton of Valais is investigating claims of electoral fraud in the recent cantonal government elections. https://www.thelocal.ch/20170327/valais-investigates-claims-of-fraud-in-recent-cantonal-election Mon, 27 Mar 2017 14:01:35 +0200 valais-investigates-claims-of-fraud-in-recent-cantonal-election France's Marine Le Pen is the biggest risk to European stability, Credit Suisse said in a guide launched on Thursday to help investors navigate the upcoming "defining" months facing the continent. https://www.thelocal.ch/20170309/swiss-bank-deems-le-pen-biggest-risk-to-europe Thu, 09 Mar 2017 14:15:30 +0100 swiss-bank-deems-le-pen-biggest-risk-to-europe As Donald Trump's inauguration day arrives, The Local looks at how his presence in the White House could affect Switzerland https://www.thelocal.ch/20161110/what-could-trumps-election-mean-for-switzerland Thu, 10 Nov 2016 13:19:08 +0100 what-could-trumps-election-mean-for-switzerland