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 far-right’s ‘No to 10 million’ initiative, to be voted on in Sunday's referendum, is the result of the Swiss government’s failure to prepare the country’s infrastructure for the significant population spurt, an expert has claimed. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260611/a-wake-up-call-switzerland-pays-price-for-not-preparing-for-population-growth Thu, 11 Jun 2026 09:40:34 +0200 a-wake-up-call-switzerland-pays-price-for-not-preparing-for-population-growth Federal Court rules in favour of a minimum wage for two Zurich municipalities; Basel-City is first to have more foreigners and young people than eligible voters; and more Swiss news in our Thursday roundup. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260611/today-in-switzerland-a-roundup-of-the-latest-news-on-thursday-241 Thu, 11 Jun 2026 08:44:59 +0200 today-in-switzerland-a-roundup-of-the-latest-news-on-thursday-241 To appease president Donald Trump, Switzerland has so far poured $27 billion – over 10 percent of its total commitment – into the US economy. But this may not be enough to satisfy Uncle Sam. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260610/swiss-companies-invest-27-billion-in-the-us-but-it-may-not-be-enough Wed, 10 Jun 2026 10:14:30 +0200 swiss-companies-invest-27-billion-in-the-us-but-it-may-not-be-enough On June 14th, the results of the controversial and highly divisive bid to curtail immigration to Switzerland will finally become known. But what conditions need to be met for this initiative to pass? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260609/double-majority-what-needs-to-happen-for-swiss-population-cap-initiative-to-pass Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:05:47 +0200 double-majority-what-needs-to-happen-for-swiss-population-cap-initiative-to-pass 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 13:01:41 +0100 a-foreigners-guide-to-understanding-swiss-politics-in-five-minutes The vote on immigrant numbers has been hogging the headlines, but there is another issue at stake in Switzerland's June 14th referendum. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260505/the-other-issue-swiss-will-vote-on-in-the-june-referendum Tue, 05 May 2026 15:57:11 +0200 the-other-issue-swiss-will-vote-on-in-the-june-referendum On June 14th, voters in Switzerland will have their say on two federal initiatives, as well as on a number of issues of regional importance. We have selected the cantonal votes that are most likely to matter to local residents. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260518/taxes-and-wages-whats-at-stake-in-swiss-cantonal-referendums-in-june Mon, 18 May 2026 15:49:41 +0200 taxes-and-wages-whats-at-stake-in-swiss-cantonal-referendums-in-june Switzerland records a spike in violent crime; concrete blocks to ensure the closure of Geneva’s borders with France; and more news in our Tuesday roundup. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260609/today-in-switzerland-a-roundup-of-the-latest-news-on-tuesday-248 Tue, 09 Jun 2026 08:16:36 +0200 today-in-switzerland-a-roundup-of-the-latest-news-on-tuesday-248 On June 14th, Swiss voters will decide whether to accept the hard-right initiative that seeks to stop population growth by limiting the number of immigrants from the EU allowed to work and live in the country. But could the ‘yes’ vote trigger a ‘preemptive’ migration surge? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260608/could-eu-nationals-rush-to-move-to-switzerland-if-population-cap-is-triggered Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:47:40 +0200 could-eu-nationals-rush-to-move-to-switzerland-if-population-cap-is-triggered Foreign nationals in Switzerland could be slapped with a ‘security tax’, and a look at claims the country is heading for its own version of Brexit — these are among the news that The Local reported this week. You can catch up on everything in this weekly roundup. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260605/five-big-news-stories-from-switzerland-you-need-to-catch-up-on-this-week-45 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:06:40 +0200 five-big-news-stories-from-switzerland-you-need-to-catch-up-on-this-week-45 If you come from a country where smoke detectors are obligatory, you may be surprised by the lack of these devices in Swiss dwellings. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260605/why-dont-apartments-in-switzerland-always-have-smoke-alarms Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:43:15 +0200 why-dont-apartments-in-switzerland-always-have-smoke-alarms MPs in Switzerland's lower house, the National Council, have approved a right-wing motion that would require foreign nationals residing in the country to pay a fee to contribute to the country's security costs. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260605/swiss-mps-back-a-new-security-tax-on-foreign-residents-in-switzerland Fri, 05 Jun 2026 10:27:38 +0200 swiss-mps-back-a-new-security-tax-on-foreign-residents-in-switzerland The current Swiss driving licenses are, like official ID cards, in the same format as credit cards. But very soon a newer version will become available. So will it be obligatory to switch? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260604/what-you-should-know-about-switzerlands-new-digital-drivers-license Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:18:33 +0200 what-you-should-know-about-switzerlands-new-digital-drivers-license A win for the ‘No to 10 million’ initiative in a referendum on June 14th would in years to come impact many aspects of life in Switzerland. But what about cross-border travel with Switzerland's neighbours? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260604/how-would-travel-to-and-from-switzerland-be-hit-if-swiss-have-to-break-ties-with-eu Thu, 04 Jun 2026 15:01:18 +0200 how-would-travel-to-and-from-switzerland-be-hit-if-swiss-have-to-break-ties-with-eu If the hard-right’s anti-immigration bid is approved at the ballot box on June 14th, when would the Swiss government enact the initiative into new law? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260603/timeline-when-would-switzerlands-no-to-10-million-vote-take-effect Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:34:24 +0200 timeline-when-would-switzerlands-no-to-10-million-vote-take-effect If you have lived in the country a while, you know that things here change at a snail’s pace. There are several reasons why the Swiss like to take their sweet time — and it has nothing to do with watches. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230202/why-is-change-so-slow-to-take-root-in-switzerland Thu, 02 Feb 2023 15:20:41 +0100 why-is-change-so-slow-to-take-root-in-switzerland New polls have revealed that two weeks before the June 14th referendum, Swiss voters look set to narrowly reject the controversial 'No to 10 million' initiative. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260603/switzerlands-anti-immigration-initiative-now-looks-likely-to-fail-polls-show Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:27:49 +0200 switzerlands-anti-immigration-initiative-now-looks-likely-to-fail-polls-show As the momentum is growing ahead of Switzerland's vote to cap immigration, many parallels are being drawn with the divisive 2016 Brexit referendum in the UK. An expert explains whether the comparison is valid. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260603/striking-parallels-is-switzerlands-anti-immigration-vote-really-another-brexit Wed, 03 Jun 2026 09:01:36 +0200 striking-parallels-is-switzerlands-anti-immigration-vote-really-another-brexit The hard-right initiative seeking to curb the number of foreigners employed in Switzerland would have dire consequences for the country, its opponents have told The Local. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260108/why-the-swiss-anti-immigration-vote-is-a-threat-to-anyone-working-in-switzerland Thu, 08 Jan 2026 12:57:41 +0100 why-the-swiss-anti-immigration-vote-is-a-threat-to-anyone-working-in-switzerland Some polls show that the ‘No to 10 million’ initiative could win by a narrow margin. Who in Switzerland is in favour of the hard-right proposal? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260601/who-are-the-swiss-voters-who-will-vote-yes-to-capping-immigration Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:11:10 +0200 who-are-the-swiss-voters-who-will-vote-yes-to-capping-immigration