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 Besides three issues to be voted on the national level, some Swiss cantons will hold referendums on issues of local importance as well. https://www.thelocal.ch/20261106/wages-and-taxes-whats-on-the-ballot-in-switzerlands-next-cantonal-referendums Fri, 06 Nov 2026 12:40:56 +0100 wages-and-taxes-whats-on-the-ballot-in-switzerlands-next-cantonal-referendums Even if you didn't stay up all night to watch the results, you know by now that Democrats have won the control of the US Congress - that is, the House of Representatives and the Senate. This development will impact Switzerland in several ways as well. https://www.thelocal.ch/20261104/how-could-the-outcome-of-us-midterm-elections-impact-switzerland Wed, 04 Nov 2026 11:44:35 +0100 how-could-the-outcome-of-us-midterm-elections-impact-switzerland Leaders of the EU and the UK will meet for a crucial summit in November with a move towards closer cooperation on the table. But how much will be achieved given the differences and disagreements that exist? https://www.thelocal.ch/20261031/a-lot-of-arguing-to-be-done-whats-at-stake-in-the-upcoming-eu-uk-summit Sat, 31 Oct 2026 10:36:08 +0100 a-lot-of-arguing-to-be-done-whats-at-stake-in-the-upcoming-eu-uk-summit China's leader Xi Jinping and Swiss President Guy Parmelin hailed a major trade deal update at a signing ceremony on Friday, removing tariffs on almost all Swiss exports to the world's second-largest economy. https://www.thelocal.ch/20261030/chinese-swiss-leaders-hail-deal-removing-trade-tariffs Fri, 30 Oct 2026 13:28:36 +0100 chinese-swiss-leaders-hail-deal-removing-trade-tariffs Switzerland's Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis on Friday discussed normalising political relations with North Korea during a visit to Pyongyang, after formally opening a diplomatic office in the country. https://www.thelocal.ch/20261030/swiss-foreign-minister-in-north-korea-for-talks-on-closer-ties Fri, 30 Oct 2026 12:53:16 +0100 swiss-foreign-minister-in-north-korea-for-talks-on-closer-ties The Swiss government said Wednesday it would not "abandon" a deal to purchase US Patriot missile systems which faces severe delays, but is considering European and Israeli weapons for a backup. https://www.thelocal.ch/20261029/switzerland-seeks-missile-backup-amid-patriot-delays Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:46:22 +0100 switzerland-seeks-missile-backup-amid-patriot-delays On November 29th, Swiss voters will decide whether their government should be able to supply arms to a state involved in an armed conflict. And that brings up a pertinent question of why the neutral country is involved in producing and exporting weapons in the first place? https://www.thelocal.ch/20261028/why-is-neutral-switzerland-manufacturing-and-exporting-weapons Wed, 28 Oct 2026 14:21:12 +0100 why-is-neutral-switzerland-manufacturing-and-exporting-weapons From blockaded schools in Rome to tent camps in Madrid and street protests in France, young people across Europe are turning their anger on a political class they say is not listening. https://www.thelocal.ch/20261023/generational-rage-how-young-europeans-are-fighting-to-be-heard Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:41:40 +0200 generational-rage-how-young-europeans-are-fighting-to-be-heard Among political actions currently on the agenda of the populist Swiss People’s Party (SVP) is the bid to introduce more systematic controls at the country’s borders. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260921/what-you-should-know-about-switzerlands-proposed-border-protection-initiative Mon, 21 Sep 2026 15:23:28 +0200 what-you-should-know-about-switzerlands-proposed-border-protection-initiative In this year’s final round of national referendums, to be held at the end of November, Swiss voters will decide on four controversial issues. https://www.thelocal.ch/20261014/pension-and-taxes-whats-at-stake-in-switzerlands-november-referendums Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:28:59 +0200 pension-and-taxes-whats-at-stake-in-switzerlands-november-referendums During the autumn session of the Parliament that lasted from September 14th until October 2nd, Swiss deputies had approved a number of key motions. https://www.thelocal.ch/20261005/immigration-citizenship-what-swiss-mps-voted-on-this-autumn Mon, 05 Oct 2026 15:54:46 +0200 immigration-citizenship-what-swiss-mps-voted-on-this-autumn Like most countries, Switzerland doesn’t grant non-citizens a right to vote and, therefore, have a direct say in how their host country is being run. But there are ways foreign residents can get involved. https://www.thelocal.ch/20231026/how-can-foreign-citizens-in-switzerland-get-involved-in-local-politics Thu, 26 Oct 2023 15:16:58 +0200 how-can-foreign-citizens-in-switzerland-get-involved-in-local-politics Switzerland's political system can be a little confusing for international residents to get their head around. Here's a quick guide to help you understand how it works. https://www.thelocal.ch/20211129/a-foreigners-guide-to-understanding-swiss-politics-in-five-minutes Mon, 29 Nov 2021 14:01:41 +0100 a-foreigners-guide-to-understanding-swiss-politics-in-five-minutes Guy Parmelin, 66, announced on October 2nd that he would leave the Federal Council at the end of his term as Swiss president, on December 31st. https://www.thelocal.ch/20261002/swiss-president-will-leave-the-government-at-the-end-of-the-year Fri, 02 Oct 2026 16:08:42 +0200 swiss-president-will-leave-the-government-at-the-end-of-the-year Besides casting votes on two Switzerland-wide initiatives, citizens of several cantons also weighed in on issues of regional importance. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260928/lower-taxes-lighter-traffic-how-did-swiss-cantons-vote-in-sundays-referendums Mon, 28 Sep 2026 14:37:04 +0200 lower-taxes-lighter-traffic-how-did-swiss-cantons-vote-in-sundays-referendums Swiss voters on Sunday appeared to reject a proposal to tighten their country's neutrality, dealing a blow to an initiative championed by the hard-right and dubbed "pro-Russian" by opponents, according to an initial exit poll projection. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260927/swiss-vote-on-what-it-means-to-be-neutral Sun, 27 Sep 2026 10:56:38 +0200 swiss-vote-on-what-it-means-to-be-neutral After recent regional election breakthroughs by the Alternative for Germany (AfD), here is an overview of radical, nationalist and far- and hard-right parties' positions across Europe in recent years. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260926/breakthroughs-for-the-radical-and-far-right-in-europe Sat, 26 Sep 2026 17:11:29 +0200 breakthroughs-for-the-radical-and-far-right-in-europe The Swiss will vote Sunday on a heavily debated proposal to tighten their country's traditional neutrality, amid fears that an expected "no" could be interpreted abroad as abandoning the cherished principle altogether. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260924/swiss-voters-expected-to-shun-stricter-neutrality Thu, 24 Sep 2026 10:52:10 +0200 swiss-voters-expected-to-shun-stricter-neutrality Swiss voters will decide on September 27th whether to keep their neutrality as it currently is, or if it should be more restrictive. But how different is it really from other European countries’ policies of non-intervention in world affairs? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260923/how-different-is-swiss-neutrality-from-elsewhere-in-europe Wed, 23 Sep 2026 17:36:40 +0200 how-different-is-swiss-neutrality-from-elsewhere-in-europe In the third round of 2026 referendums, to be held on September 27th, Swiss voters will have their say on a variety of issues of both national and cantonal importance. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260831/taxes-and-assisted-dying-what-swiss-cantons-will-on-in-september Mon, 31 Aug 2026 15:36:56 +0200 taxes-and-assisted-dying-what-swiss-cantons-will-on-in-september