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 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 Donald Trump has once more spoken about his dislike of Switzerland. What is it about this time? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260423/us-president-trump-says-he-has-another-problem-with-elitist-switzerland Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:21:35 +0200 us-president-trump-says-he-has-another-problem-with-elitist-switzerland In the coming weeks, debates on the new batch of Swiss-EU agreements will begin in the parliamentary committees. So what are the key points of the discussions? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260415/swiss-lawmakers-set-to-rule-on-controversial-points-of-eu-deal Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:28:38 +0200 swiss-lawmakers-set-to-rule-on-controversial-points-of-eu-deal The Swiss government is considering dropping the agreed purchase of the Patriot air-defence system from the United States amid severe delivery delays, Defence Minister Martin Pfister said Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260401/swiss-government-could-drop-purchase-of-us-patriot-air-defence-system Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:41:35 +0200 swiss-government-could-drop-purchase-of-us-patriot-air-defence-system Switzerland's finance minister and former president has filed a criminal complaint over a barrage of sexist abuse on Elon Musk's X platform, her office confirmed Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260401/swiss-minister-files-criminal-complaint-over-sexist-abuse-on-x Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:30:02 +0200 swiss-minister-files-criminal-complaint-over-sexist-abuse-on-x The Middle East war risks becoming unpredictable in terms of its duration and outcome, Switzerland's foreign minister said in an interview published Saturday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260321/middle-east-war-risks-becoming-unpredictable-switzerland-warns Sat, 21 Mar 2026 14:55:19 +0100 middle-east-war-risks-becoming-unpredictable-switzerland-warns The first session of the parliament in 2026, from March 2nd to March 20th, yielded some decisions that are bound to impact the lives of Switzerland’s population, including foreign residents. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260320/the-key-decisions-swiss-mps-made-during-parliaments-spring-session Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:18:42 +0100 the-key-decisions-swiss-mps-made-during-parliaments-spring-session Switzerland decided on March 20th it will not authorise the export of war material to the United States during the Middle East conflict, in line with its long-standing principle of military neutrality. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260320/swiss-will-not-export-war-equipment-to-us-during-mideast-conflict Fri, 20 Mar 2026 13:54:22 +0100 swiss-will-not-export-war-equipment-to-us-during-mideast-conflict In certain countries – the United States immediately jumps to mind – foreign-born naturalised citizens are limited for how involved they can get in politics. What is the situation in Switzerland? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260319/what-swiss-political-offices-can-naturalised-foreign-citizens-run-for Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:41:39 +0100 what-swiss-political-offices-can-naturalised-foreign-citizens-run-for On March 2nd, Bern and Brussels signed a package of agreements intended to ‘deepen and harmonise' ties between the two sides. But right-wingers are sounding the alarm about the potentially disastrous consequences for Switzerland if the treaties are ratified. Do their warnings have any merit? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260318/vastly-exaggerated-would-the-new-eu-treaty-really-harm-switzerland Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:10:47 +0100 vastly-exaggerated-would-the-new-eu-treaty-really-harm-switzerland This week, the National Council adopted a motion calling on Switzerland to reduce its dependence on the United States for security matters, while strengthening cooperation with the EU and other European countries. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260313/swiss-mps-urge-switzerland-to-distance-itself-from-the-united-states Fri, 13 Mar 2026 14:43:54 +0100 swiss-mps-urge-switzerland-to-distance-itself-from-the-united-states Switzerland's exports of weapons and military equipment rose by 43 percent in 2025, reversing two straight annual falls, according to government figures released Tuesday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260311/switzerlands-military-exports-rise-by-nearly-50-percent Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:38:26 +0100 switzerlands-military-exports-rise-by-nearly-50-percent On March 2nd, Switzerland and the European Union signed a package of agreements intended to ‘deepen and harmonise' ties between the two sides. But they are still far from being a done deal. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260304/what-happens-next-with-the-new-swiss-eu-agreements Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:32:46 +0100 what-happens-next-with-the-new-swiss-eu-agreements On June 14th, Swiss voters will have their say on the hard-right’s push to drastically limit the influx of EU workers into Switzerland - a move that business associations strongly oppose. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260304/chaos-initiative-what-swiss-businesses-and-employers-say-about-the-anti-immigration-proposal Wed, 04 Mar 2026 13:26:30 +0100 chaos-initiative-what-swiss-businesses-and-employers-say-about-the-anti-immigration-proposal Aside from the federal referendums, voters in several Swiss cantons will also weigh in on matters of regional importance on Sunday March 8th. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260210/wages-to-speed-cameras-the-big-issues-swiss-cantons-will-vote-on-in-march Tue, 10 Feb 2026 14:39:31 +0100 wages-to-speed-cameras-the-big-issues-swiss-cantons-will-vote-on-in-march Swiss voters will have their say on four big issues brought to the ballot box in the first round of 2026 federal referendums, to be held on March 8th. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260126/taxes-and-cash-whats-at-stake-in-switzerlands-spring-referendums Mon, 26 Jan 2026 15:46:20 +0100 taxes-and-cash-whats-at-stake-in-switzerlands-spring-referendums The European Union and Switzerland agreed Thursday to strengthen their cooperation on foreign policy, security and defence, at a time of soaring geopolitical tensions. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260306/eu-switzerland-agree-to-strengthen-foreign-security-cooperation Fri, 06 Mar 2026 09:20:46 +0100 eu-switzerland-agree-to-strengthen-foreign-security-cooperation Switzerland and the European Union signed on March 2nd a package of agreements to deepen and harmonise ties in the face of what the EU chief described as "a volatile global context". https://www.thelocal.ch/20260302/eu-and-switzerland-ink-deals-package-for-closer-ties Mon, 02 Mar 2026 14:15:54 +0100 eu-and-switzerland-ink-deals-package-for-closer-ties Switzerland is a neutral country and yet plays a pivotal role in the war between the United States and Tehran. Why is this? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260302/how-is-switzerland-involved-in-the-us-iran-conflict Mon, 02 Mar 2026 11:12:16 +0100 how-is-switzerland-involved-in-the-us-iran-conflict Switzerland urged a return to diplomacy as Tehran launched retaliatory strikes across the Gulf on Sunday -- three days after mediated talks in Geneva between the United States and Iran. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260302/swiss-urge-return-to-diplomacy-as-middle-east-erupts Mon, 02 Mar 2026 09:38:48 +0100 swiss-urge-return-to-diplomacy-as-middle-east-erupts