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 In the latest round of national referendums on September 28th, Swiss voters will have their say on two controversial issues. We explain what they are. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250904/property-taxes-and-e-id-whats-at-stake-in-switzerlands-september-referendums Thu, 04 Sep 2025 14:36:17 +0200 property-taxes-and-e-id-whats-at-stake-in-switzerlands-september-referendums Swiss voters on Sunday firmly rejected a referendum proposal made by ecologists to enshrine respect for the planet's natural resources into the constitution. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250209/swiss-vote-rejects-placing-ecology-at-heart-of-constitution Sun, 09 Feb 2025 15:37:14 +0100 swiss-vote-rejects-placing-ecology-at-heart-of-constitution Swiss voters rejected proposals to bolster biodiversity protections as well as a pensions reform in twin referendums on Sunday, according to projected results. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240922/swiss-vote-on-pensions-and-environment-protections Sun, 22 Sep 2024 10:55:37 +0200 swiss-vote-on-pensions-and-environment-protections Along with national referendums, some Swiss cantons also held their own votes. Among the most contentious ones took place in Geneva, including around rights to vote for foreigners. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240610/what-were-the-results-of-switzerlands-cantonal-referendums Mon, 10 Jun 2024 14:18:15 +0200 what-were-the-results-of-switzerlands-cantonal-referendums Switzerland approved a law on Sunday aimed at accelerating the development of renewable energies, as part of the country's bid to attain carbon neutrality by 2050. But three health related initiatives were rejected. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240609/swiss-approve-law-to-speed-up-renewable-energy-development Sun, 09 Jun 2024 20:19:06 +0200 swiss-approve-law-to-speed-up-renewable-energy-development Switzerland's largest wind farm, sitting astride the ridge of the Jura mountains by the French border, consists of only 16 turbines -- tiny compared to those of other European countries. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240606/swiss-renewable-energy-battle-moves-to-the-ballots Thu, 06 Jun 2024 10:30:06 +0200 swiss-renewable-energy-battle-moves-to-the-ballots On June 9th, Swiss citizens will weigh in on two proposals aiming to curb the cost of the obligatory health insurance. But despite earlier forecasts, fewer voters are now backing the proposed measures. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240605/support-for-proposals-to-curb-swiss-health-insurance-costs-wanes Wed, 05 Jun 2024 15:53:52 +0200 support-for-proposals-to-curb-swiss-health-insurance-costs-wanes Efforts to give longtime foreign residents at least some voting rights are gaining momentum in Switzerland. Bern could be the sixth canton to do so. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240528/could-foreign-residents-in-bern-be-allowed-to-vote Tue, 28 May 2024 14:28:59 +0200 could-foreign-residents-in-bern-be-allowed-to-vote On June 9th, voters in Swiss canton of Geneva will go to the polls to decide whether foreign residents should have their voting rights ‘upgraded’ from communal to cantonal ones. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240527/why-are-some-swiss-mps-against-giving-foreigners-in-geneva-more-voting-power Mon, 27 May 2024 14:09:09 +0200 why-are-some-swiss-mps-against-giving-foreigners-in-geneva-more-voting-power Switzerland is set to vote on reinforcing its neutrality, Russia's war in Ukraine having reopened questions over the country's long-standing position on non-engagement in foreign conflicts. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240320/swiss-move-towards-vote-on-reinforcing-neutrality Wed, 20 Mar 2024 14:37:18 +0100 swiss-move-towards-vote-on-reinforcing-neutrality Swiss voters on Sunday backed making streaming services pay to boost Swiss film-making, and funding the expansion of Europe's Frontex border agency, thereby avoiding another row with Brussels, according to projected results. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220515/swiss-voters-back-netflix-law-frontex-expansion-projected-results Sun, 15 May 2022 14:52:08 +0200 swiss-voters-back-netflix-law-frontex-expansion-projected-results Switzerland's decision to purchase US-made fighter jets could be put to a referendum, https://www.thelocal.ch/20210630/swiss-decision-to-purchase-us-fighter-jets-could-force-second-referendum Wed, 30 Jun 2021 20:13:30 +0200 swiss-decision-to-purchase-us-fighter-jets-could-force-second-referendum The Swiss government on Tuesday indicated it would be backing the same-sex marriage campaign ahead of September’s referendum on the issue. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210622/swiss-government-indicates-support-for-same-sex-marriage-as-referendum-date-set Tue, 22 Jun 2021 12:16:28 +0200 swiss-government-indicates-support-for-same-sex-marriage-as-referendum-date-set US President Joe Biden sang the praises Tuesday of two US-made fighter jets in the running for a major contract to replace Switzerland's fleet, his Swiss counterpart said. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210616/biden-pushes-us-fighter-jets-in-talks-with-swiss Wed, 16 Jun 2021 12:20:29 +0200 biden-pushes-us-fighter-jets-in-talks-with-swiss Switzerland on Sunday rejected proposals that would have made it the first European country to ban synthetic pesticides following a divisive campaign that shattered the idyllic image of peaceful Swiss Alpine pastures. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210613/referendum-result-swiss-snub-pesticide-ban-but-welcome-anti-terror-law Sun, 13 Jun 2021 19:10:52 +0200 referendum-result-swiss-snub-pesticide-ban-but-welcome-anti-terror-law On June 13th, the Swiss will vote on several issues, including on whether to keep or repeal the controversial Covid legislation. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210608/explained-whats-at-stake-in-switzerlands-covid-19-referendum Tue, 08 Jun 2021 15:06:33 +0200 explained-whats-at-stake-in-switzerlands-covid-19-referendum On Sunday, June 13th, the Swiss will have to weigh in on two initiatives and three referendums. From coronavirus lockdowns to terrorism, here are the issues at stake. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210610/explained-whats-at-stake-at-this-weekends-referendum-in-switzerland Thu, 10 Jun 2021 16:23:52 +0200 explained-whats-at-stake-at-this-weekends-referendum-in-switzerland On June 13th, Switzerland will go to the polls to decide five questions. One, a ban on pesticides, has already caused controversy. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210606/explained-whats-at-stake-in-switzerlands-pesticide-referendum Sun, 06 Jun 2021 16:43:01 +0200 explained-whats-at-stake-in-switzerlands-pesticide-referendum Switzerland will hold a referendum on same-sex marriage, after a conservative group tallied enough signatures to force the issue to a vote. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210408/switzerland-to-hold-same-sex-marriage-referendum Thu, 08 Apr 2021 12:50:24 +0200 switzerland-to-hold-same-sex-marriage-referendum Aside from the three issues voted on the national level on Sunday, citizens of six Swiss cantons cast their ballots on a total of 11 proposals. Here’s an overview of what the issues were. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210308/sunday-shopping-and-financial-aid-how-switzerlands-cantonal-referendums-could-affect-you Mon, 08 Mar 2021 15:18:23 +0100 sunday-shopping-and-financial-aid-how-switzerlands-cantonal-referendums-could-affect-you