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 Non-EU nationals living in Europe don't have many voting rights but some countries do allow them to cast a ballot in local elections. Here's what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220218/explained-where-in-europe-can-non-eu-foreigners-vote-in-local-elections Fri, 18 Feb 2022 12:40:39 +0100 explained-where-in-europe-can-non-eu-foreigners-vote-in-local-elections On November 24th, voters in Basel-City rejected a proposal to grant foreign nationals living in their midst more political rights. Similar moves have been turned down elsewhere in Switzerland as well but is it fair that foreigners get no say in Swiss life? https://www.thelocal.ch/20241127/analysis-is-it-fair-foreign-residents-dont-have-more-say-in-switzerland Wed, 27 Nov 2024 16:36:28 +0100 analysis-is-it-fair-foreign-residents-dont-have-more-say-in-switzerland Tuesday, June 18th is the deadline for Brits to register to vote in the UK's general election, but there are other measures you can take to make sure your vote gets to the ballot box on time. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240618/deadline-day-what-brits-in-europe-can-do-to-make-sure-they-vote-in-uk-election Tue, 18 Jun 2024 10:59:05 +0200 deadline-day-what-brits-in-europe-can-do-to-make-sure-they-vote-in-uk-election The UK will go to the polls on July 4th, but there are a few important dates for Brits abroad to keep track of if they want to make sure their vote will be counted. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240604/the-key-deadlines-brits-in-europe-need-to-know-to-vote-in-the-uk-election Tue, 04 Jun 2024 19:05:48 +0200 the-key-deadlines-brits-in-europe-need-to-know-to-vote-in-the-uk-election As primary elections hot up across the United States, here's everything Americans in Europe need to know about voting from overseas. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240115/how-americans-in-europe-can-vote-in-the-us-primary-elections Mon, 15 Jan 2024 14:57:03 +0100 how-americans-in-europe-can-vote-in-the-us-primary-elections The UK has changed its rules on overseas voting, meaning that thousands of Brits living in Europe will be eligible to vote in the next general election - and voter registration opens on Tuesday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240115/uk-to-open-voter-registration-for-brits-in-europe-as-15-year-rule-finally-ends Mon, 15 Jan 2024 17:44:18 +0100 uk-to-open-voter-registration-for-brits-in-europe-as-15-year-rule-finally-ends The right-wing populist Swiss People's Party, which campaigned against mass migration and "woke madness", comfortably topped Switzerland's general election on Sunday, according to early results. https://www.thelocal.ch/20231022/breaking-projected-results-show-populist-right-topping-swiss-elections Sun, 22 Oct 2023 19:01:37 +0200 breaking-projected-results-show-populist-right-topping-swiss-elections On Sunday October 22nd, the Swiss will elect 246 members their Federal Assembly — that is, the higher and lower chamber of the parliament. Why is this an important event in the country? https://www.thelocal.ch/20230818/what-you-should-know-about-switzerlands-upcoming-federal-elections Fri, 18 Aug 2023 16:54:04 +0200 what-you-should-know-about-switzerlands-upcoming-federal-elections On Sunday, the Swiss will elect 246 members their Federal Assembly — that is, the higher and lower chamber of the parliament. Is this an important event for foreign residents as well? https://www.thelocal.ch/20231003/whats-at-stake-for-foreign-citizens-in-switzerlands-parliamentary-elections Tue, 03 Oct 2023 17:48:55 +0200 whats-at-stake-for-foreign-citizens-in-switzerlands-parliamentary-elections Immigration could be the most important matter in Switzerland's federal elections on October 22nd but what else will swing voters' minds? https://www.thelocal.ch/20231016/what-are-the-big-issues-that-will-decide-switzerlands-general-election Mon, 16 Oct 2023 15:10:21 +0200 what-are-the-big-issues-that-will-decide-switzerlands-general-election On October 22nd, the Swiss will elect 246 MPs, for both the lower and upper houses of the Federal Assembly. But can foreign nationals cast their votes as well? https://www.thelocal.ch/20231004/can-foreigners-vote-in-the-swiss-parliamentary-elections Wed, 04 Oct 2023 14:38:14 +0200 can-foreigners-vote-in-the-swiss-parliamentary-elections As the country of 8.5 million people holds national elections on Sunday, here is an overview of how governance works in the wealthy Alpine nation. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200223/understanding-swiss-governance-structure Sun, 23 Feb 2020 01:56:05 +0100 understanding-swiss-governance-structure The 200 newly elected members of Switzerland's parliament will not be rushing to move to Bern full-time because, well, they have lives outside of politics. But is there a downside to this? https://www.thelocal.ch/20191021/why-switzerlands-parliament-members-only-work-part-time Mon, 21 Oct 2019 14:37:49 +0200 why-switzerlands-parliament-members-only-work-part-time For the first time, the Green Party could get a seat in the seven-seat Federal Council, the coalition that governs Switzerland. But how will this change Swiss politics? https://www.thelocal.ch/20191021/will-the-surge-of-the-greens-have-an-impact-on-swiss-politics Mon, 21 Oct 2019 12:35:28 +0200 will-the-surge-of-the-greens-have-an-impact-on-swiss-politics Switzerland's Green Party made historic gains in national elections Sunday, while the anti-immigrant right wing was on track to remain the largest party in parliament despite a slip in its support. https://www.thelocal.ch/20191020/green-party-makes-historic-gains-in-swiss-vote Sun, 20 Oct 2019 22:29:15 +0200 green-party-makes-historic-gains-in-swiss-vote The Swiss federal elections take place this Sunday, October 20. From which issues matter most to one thing you’d like Swiss politicians to change, this is what you had to say. And there were some controversial suggestions. https://www.thelocal.ch/20191017/swiss-elections-your-view-on-the-most-important-issues-at-stake Thu, 17 Oct 2019 19:26:06 +0200 swiss-elections-your-view-on-the-most-important-issues-at-stake Switzerland goes to the polls on Sunday but unlike in other countries the parliamentary elections are not the most important vote in the country. That's because of Switzerland's very particular form of democracy. https://www.thelocal.ch/20191014/why-the-swiss-parliament-doesnt-enact-laws Mon, 14 Oct 2019 15:02:55 +0200 why-the-swiss-parliament-doesnt-enact-laws The ‘astronomical’ financial impact of climate change on Swiss infrastructure has been revealed in a new study. https://www.thelocal.ch/20191011/climate-change-set-to-cost-switzerland-chf1-billion-per-year Fri, 11 Oct 2019 13:50:40 +0200 climate-change-set-to-cost-switzerland-chf1-billion-per-year Switzerland's largest party on Thursday accused Google of censorship after a campaign video, which demonised asylum seekers, was removed from YouTube less than two weeks before national elections. https://www.thelocal.ch/20191011/swiss-right-wing-party-cries-censorship-after-youtube-blocks-video Fri, 11 Oct 2019 11:00:40 +0200 swiss-right-wing-party-cries-censorship-after-youtube-blocks-video Swiss voters go to the polls in just under two weeks time. Here's what you need to know to understand what's at stake in the parliamentary elections and what the outcome might be. https://www.thelocal.ch/20191008/swiss-parliamentary-elections-whats-at-stake Tue, 08 Oct 2019 11:11:14 +0200 swiss-parliamentary-elections-whats-at-stake