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 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 European leaders sending their troops to Greenland has - writes political columnist John Lichfield - called Donald Trump's bluff when it comes to military conflict. Instead the continent faces the prospect of a long and brutal trade war. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260120/opinion-this-is-a-1938-moment-for-europe-but-the-war-will-be-a-trade-war Tue, 20 Jan 2026 11:46:19 +0100 opinion-this-is-a-1938-moment-for-europe-but-the-war-will-be-a-trade-war From attitudes towards foreigners and improvements in work-life balance, Clare O'Dea examines how Switzerland has changed over the last 20 years and how it hasn't ('the Swiss still don't know how to queue'). Her book All About Switzerland is now available - details below. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240518/opinion-switzerland-is-a-better-place-than-20-years-ago-but-much-can-still-improve Sat, 18 May 2024 12:49:13 +0200 opinion-switzerland-is-a-better-place-than-20-years-ago-but-much-can-still-improve Autumn is a time for making resolutions, and what better goal than to build bridges with the Swiss by learning a national language. Whether you’re a beginner or languishing at the half-way stage, Clare O’Dea has some tips on how to get the job done. https://www.thelocal.ch/20231222/seven-tips-for-how-to-learn-one-of-switzerlands-national-languages Fri, 22 Dec 2023 09:56:50 +0100 seven-tips-for-how-to-learn-one-of-switzerlands-national-languages If you don’t stay long in Switzerland, you may experience the country as a well-functioning meritocracy, but there is an ecosystem of organisations with deep historical roots that preserves privilege in invisible ways, Clare O’Dea writes. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240226/how-switzerlands-elite-old-boys-network-preserves-privilege Mon, 26 Feb 2024 16:14:53 +0100 how-switzerlands-elite-old-boys-network-preserves-privilege More than eight years after the UK's Brexit vote, a majority of EU citizens would like a closer relationship with Britain and many Brits are now prepared to ditch their Brexit red lines, a new survey has revealed. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241212/brexit-reset-why-majority-of-eu-citizens-want-closer-ties-with-the-uk Thu, 12 Dec 2024 15:02:13 +0100 brexit-reset-why-majority-of-eu-citizens-want-closer-ties-with-the-uk The return of Donald Trump to the White House may be catastrophic for US democracy. It could be even more destructive for Europe, writes John Lichfield. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241106/opinion-trumps-win-spells-crisis-for-europe-but-it-could-save-the-eu Wed, 06 Nov 2024 17:06:36 +0100 opinion-trumps-win-spells-crisis-for-europe-but-it-could-save-the-eu As countries within the EU reintroduce checks on their Schengen zone borders, columnist John Lichfield looks at why this threat to the 'invisible achievement' of open borders matters to the whole of Europe. https://www.thelocal.ch/20241023/opinion-europes-open-borders-are-precious-fragile-and-under-threat Wed, 23 Oct 2024 11:48:49 +0200 opinion-europes-open-borders-are-precious-fragile-and-under-threat There is a perception in Switzerland that Swiss natives and foreigners just don't really get on. Clare O'Dea explains why there might be a lack of chemistry and where the blame may lie. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220520/opinion-why-do-foreigners-think-the-swiss-are-unfriendly Fri, 20 May 2022 11:39:31 +0200 opinion-why-do-foreigners-think-the-swiss-are-unfriendly The Swiss are a nation of joiners, and you are missing a trick as a resident if you don’t follow their example and get involved with a non-profit association, Clare O’Dea writes. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230501/opinion-why-joining-a-club-in-switzerland-offers-a-fast-track-to-integration Mon, 01 May 2023 16:20:29 +0200 opinion-why-joining-a-club-in-switzerland-offers-a-fast-track-to-integration Switzerland's two public votes on Sunday March 3rd offer Swiss voters two different versions of reality – the elderly as vulnerable versus the elderly as strong. Clare O’Dea asks whether pensioners need protection or a push. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240227/opinion-switzerland-faces-two-pension-votes-but-neither-offers-a-solution Tue, 27 Feb 2024 18:44:36 +0100 opinion-switzerland-faces-two-pension-votes-but-neither-offers-a-solution Spend enough time in Switzerland and Swiss ways will get under your skin. Eventually you may even start thinking and acting like a local, writes Clare O'Dea. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230330/10-signs-that-youre-becoming-more-swiss-than-the-swiss Thu, 30 Mar 2023 12:56:41 +0200 10-signs-that-youre-becoming-more-swiss-than-the-swiss It's not only the glaciers in Switzerland that are shrinking, the main churches are also shedding members every year, gradually changing the religious profile of the country. Clare O’Dea, a recent church leaver, asks what this means for society. https://www.thelocal.ch/20231109/opinion-why-so-many-swiss-are-quitting-the-church-and-taking-their-money-with-them Thu, 09 Nov 2023 16:18:05 +0100 opinion-why-so-many-swiss-are-quitting-the-church-and-taking-their-money-with-them Applicants for Swiss citizenship are asked to prove a stellar level of integration into Swiss society. This makes the naturalisation process slow and intimidating - which is no accident, writes Clare O’Dea. https://www.thelocal.ch/20221208/opinion-why-its-almost-impossible-for-foreigners-to-become-fully-integrated-swiss-citizens Thu, 08 Dec 2022 12:43:07 +0100 opinion-why-its-almost-impossible-for-foreigners-to-become-fully-integrated-swiss-citizens Whether it's voting rights, money matters or the ease of becoming Swiss, certain cantons in Switzerland are, on paper at least, better for foreigners to live in than others, as Clare O'Dea explains. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230510/what-are-the-best-swiss-cantons-for-foreigners-to-live-in Wed, 10 May 2023 17:54:25 +0200 what-are-the-best-swiss-cantons-for-foreigners-to-live-in In a recent international survey, Switzerland ranked near the bottom in terms of friendliness of the local population toward foreigners, and the general difficulties they face in the country. But is this assessment justified? https://www.thelocal.ch/20230719/is-switzerland-really-a-difficult-country-to-settle-in Wed, 19 Jul 2023 17:56:32 +0200 is-switzerland-really-a-difficult-country-to-settle-in Industrial action, like the strike in Geneva airport last month, is exceedingly rare in Switzerland. This can’t be explained by good pay and working conditions alone, Clare O’Dea writes - striking is just not part of the culture.  https://www.thelocal.ch/20230710/opinion-its-not-just-the-good-wages-that-explain-why-the-swiss-rarely-strike Mon, 10 Jul 2023 12:50:52 +0200 opinion-its-not-just-the-good-wages-that-explain-why-the-swiss-rarely-strike The first rule of Swiss summer is that is has to be enjoyed to the maximum. No excuses, you’ve got to be out there making the most of the weather, events and amenities every spare minute, writes Clare O’Dea. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230626/opinion-how-you-can-make-the-most-of-the-hectic-swiss-summer Mon, 26 Jun 2023 19:20:16 +0200 opinion-how-you-can-make-the-most-of-the-hectic-swiss-summer Switzerland is particularly vulnerable to the impact of the climate crisis but the Swiss have so far failed to respond adequately to the growing emergency. Clare O’Dea looks at whether a breakthrough is finally on the cards. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230525/opinion-are-the-swiss-finally-going-to-get-serious-on-tackling-the-climate-crisis Thu, 25 May 2023 15:56:54 +0200 opinion-are-the-swiss-finally-going-to-get-serious-on-tackling-the-climate-crisis The deep-seated respect for personal privacy in Switzerland translates into practices that are sometimes at odds with fairness and democracy. Thanks to this blind spot, criminals are protected, tax evasion is facilitated, and journalism is stifled, argues Clare O’Dea. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230419/opinion-switzerlands-respect-for-privacy-has-benefits-but-it-also-harms-the-country Wed, 19 Apr 2023 16:09:35 +0200 opinion-switzerlands-respect-for-privacy-has-benefits-but-it-also-harms-the-country