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 Switzerland’s government has outlined not only the downsides it sees if the ‘No to 10 million’ initiative passes in June, but also some potentially positive aspects of the proposal. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260515/swiss-government-spells-out-the-good-and-the-bad-of-the-no-to-10-million-proposal Fri, 15 May 2026 12:11:31 +0200 swiss-government-spells-out-the-good-and-the-bad-of-the-no-to-10-million-proposal The number of foreign residents who leave Switzerland to return home is well above the EU average. There are many reasons for that, including no longer having a work permit. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250516/we-wanted-to-stay-why-some-foreigners-in-switzerland-have-to-leave Fri, 16 May 2025 12:22:15 +0200 we-wanted-to-stay-why-some-foreigners-in-switzerland-have-to-leave If the proposal to cut immigration is accepted by Swiss voters, the subsequent demographic shift would impact the country’s labour shortage and pension fund reserves. But the move’s instigators say those consequence an be avoided. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260508/have-more-children-how-switzerlands-hard-right-wants-to-compensate-for-fewer-immigrants Fri, 08 May 2026 11:11:02 +0200 have-more-children-how-switzerlands-hard-right-wants-to-compensate-for-fewer-immigrants Swiss voters look set to back a controversial proposal aimed at cutting immigration that could send shock waves through Switzerland and the EU. Editor Helena Bachmann says Swiss voters appear to have fallen victim to scare tactics. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260507/opinion-swiss-voters-appear-to-have-been-taken-in-by-right-wing-scare-tactics Thu, 07 May 2026 16:56:15 +0200 opinion-swiss-voters-appear-to-have-been-taken-in-by-right-wing-scare-tactics Swiss government ministers have analysed a parliamentary report about the viability of proposed immigration tax - an ‘entry fee’ that foreign nationals would have to pay if they settle in Switzerland. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260507/no-benefit-to-economy-switzerland-examines-much-talked-about-immigration-tax Thu, 07 May 2026 13:43:25 +0200 no-benefit-to-economy-switzerland-examines-much-talked-about-immigration-tax The Swiss People’s Party (SVP) bid to cut the number of EU nationals allowed to work in Switzerland has been rife with grey areas. Now some of them are a bit clearer. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260506/fresh-details-emerge-about-switzerlands-anti-immigration-proposal Wed, 06 May 2026 11:57:33 +0200 fresh-details-emerge-about-switzerlands-anti-immigration-proposal The 'No to 10 million' anti-immigration initiative from the hard-right Swiss People's Party is gaining momentum ahead of the November 14th referendum, but readers of The Local are divided on the impact of the upcoming vote. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260202/switzerlands-no-to-10-million-vote-would-be-catalyst-for-hatred-of-foreigners Mon, 02 Feb 2026 12:33:21 +0100 switzerlands-no-to-10-million-vote-would-be-catalyst-for-hatred-of-foreigners Though by a narrow margin, a rightwing bid to curb immigration to Switzerland looks likely to be accepted at the upcoming referendum. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260504/no-to-10-million-majority-of-swiss-voters-set-to-approve-proposal Mon, 04 May 2026 12:57:58 +0200 no-to-10-million-majority-of-swiss-voters-set-to-approve-proposal Switzerland’s retail sector would suffer major losses if the rightwing bid to drastically limit immigration is approved at the polls, Migros’ head says. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260504/we-depend-on-them-migros-boss-warns-against-cutting-immigrant-numbers-in-switzerland Mon, 04 May 2026 12:56:29 +0200 we-depend-on-them-migros-boss-warns-against-cutting-immigrant-numbers-in-switzerland In an upcoming national referendum, voters will decide whether to drastically limit the influx of foreigners into Switzerland. Doing so would increase how fast the country is aging. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260428/how-immigration-keeps-switzerland-young Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:24:24 +0200 how-immigration-keeps-switzerland-young Several proposals and changes are currently underway in Switzerland that could impact the lives of foreign nationals next year or beyond if they are implemented. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251120/what-immigration-changes-await-foreigners-in-switzerland-in-2026-and-beyond Thu, 20 Nov 2025 15:33:40 +0100 what-immigration-changes-await-foreigners-in-switzerland-in-2026-and-beyond As June 14th, the date for Switzerland's ‘No to 10 million’ referendum, approaches more opponents of the initiative are coming forward, warning of the dire consequences this measure would have on the country. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260312/who-is-leading-the-fight-in-switzerland-against-the-anti-immigration-proposal Thu, 12 Mar 2026 15:02:11 +0100 who-is-leading-the-fight-in-switzerland-against-the-anti-immigration-proposal As the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) initiative to limit immigration is gaining momentum before the June 14th national referendum, it is worth remembering that efforts in Switzerland to curb the influx of foreigners are nothing new. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260427/past-bids-to-cut-immigration-in-switzerland-failed-at-the-polls Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:26:03 +0200 past-bids-to-cut-immigration-in-switzerland-failed-at-the-polls Switzerland's Police Officers’ Association has warned that cooperation between the country's law enforcement agencies and the EU would be jeopardised if the bid to limit immigration is approved at the ballot box. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260424/disastrous-effect-why-swiss-police-are-against-hard-rights-anti-immigration-proposal Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:39:02 +0200 disastrous-effect-why-swiss-police-are-against-hard-rights-anti-immigration-proposal The right-wing initiative to curb the number of EU immigrants is raising questions about what would happen to foreigners who already live in Switzerland if this measure wins the majority of votes. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260120/how-will-you-be-affected-if-switzerlands-anti-immigration-proposal-wins Tue, 20 Jan 2026 14:30:35 +0100 how-will-you-be-affected-if-switzerlands-anti-immigration-proposal-wins On June 14th, voters will have their say on a hard-right’s proposal to limit the number of foreigners allowed to settle in Switzerland, in order to prevent further population growth. Approval of this initiative would present challenges not only to the country as a whole, but especially to the canton of Geneva. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260413/how-would-switzerlands-anti-immigration-vote-impact-geneva Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:46:24 +0200 how-would-switzerlands-anti-immigration-vote-impact-geneva Bureaucratic backlogs and rule changes on residency rights are having an increasing impact on the lives of foreigners living around Europe. Many say they have been left in legal limbo with their lives effectively on hold. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260411/a-nightmare-lives-of-foreigners-across-europe-hit-by-residency-card-delays Sat, 11 Apr 2026 11:53:39 +0200 a-nightmare-lives-of-foreigners-across-europe-hit-by-residency-card-delays A recent analysis offers an interesting perspective on immigration – and particularly on how naturalisation changes Switzerland’s population landscape. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260410/how-naturalisation-has-shifted-switzerlands-population-balance Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:44:06 +0200 how-naturalisation-has-shifted-switzerlands-population-balance When the topic of foreign residents is brought up, it usually relates to people from the European Union. But what about those who come to Switzerland from third countries? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260410/what-do-we-know-about-all-the-non-eu-nationals-working-in-switzerland Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:49:14 +0200 what-do-we-know-about-all-the-non-eu-nationals-working-in-switzerland Though the initiative to curb the influx of foreigners from the EU has been sparking controversy for a while, the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) has officially launched its campaign on March 24th – less than thre months before the issue is voted on in a referendum. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260324/switzerlands-hard-right-launches-its-anti-immigration-campaign Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:44:03 +0100 switzerlands-hard-right-launches-its-anti-immigration-campaign