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 Though by a narrow margin, a rightwing bid to curb immigration to Switzerland looks likely to be accepted at the upcoming referendum. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260504/no-to-10-million-majority-of-swiss-voters-set-to-approve-proposal Mon, 04 May 2026 12:57:58 +0200 no-to-10-million-majority-of-swiss-voters-set-to-approve-proposal The right-wing initiative to curb the number of EU immigrants is raising questions about what would happen to foreigners who already live in Switzerland if this measure wins the majority of votes. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260120/how-will-you-be-affected-if-switzerlands-anti-immigration-proposal-wins Tue, 20 Jan 2026 14:30:35 +0100 how-will-you-be-affected-if-switzerlands-anti-immigration-proposal-wins Though the initiative to curb the influx of foreigners from the EU has been sparking controversy for a while, the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) has officially launched its campaign on March 24th – less than thre months before the issue is voted on in a referendum. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260324/switzerlands-hard-right-launches-its-anti-immigration-campaign Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:44:03 +0100 switzerlands-hard-right-launches-its-anti-immigration-campaign In previous opinion polls, a right-wing initiative to curb immigration from the EU enjoyed a solid backing from Swiss voters. What do the most recent figures reveal ahead of June's vote? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260317/is-voter-support-for-switzerlands-anti-immigraton-initiative-waning Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:14:37 +0100 is-voter-support-for-switzerlands-anti-immigraton-initiative-waning On June 14th, Swiss voters will have their say on a highly controversial move seeking to drastically curb immigration to Switzerland. But will certain foreign nationals be able to cast their votes as well? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260316/will-foreign-residents-be-able-to-vote-in-the-swiss-anti-immigration-referendum Mon, 16 Mar 2026 14:38:48 +0100 will-foreign-residents-be-able-to-vote-in-the-swiss-anti-immigration-referendum Aside from the national topics, Swiss citizens also cast their votes on matters of regional importance in the first round of referendums of 2026 including minimum wages and speed cameras. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260309/speed-cameras-and-minimum-wages-the-key-results-in-swiss-canton-referendums Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:48:06 +0100 speed-cameras-and-minimum-wages-the-key-results-in-swiss-canton-referendums Swiss voters approved three changes and turned down one in Sunday's national referendums. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260309/swiss-vote-down-proposal-for-massive-climate-fund Mon, 09 Mar 2026 08:38:10 +0100 swiss-vote-down-proposal-for-massive-climate-fund 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 Swiss government has decided to bring the right-wing initiative seeking to curb immigration to the ballot box on June 14th. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260212/switzerlands-controversial-anti-immigration-proposal-to-be-voted-on-in-june Thu, 12 Feb 2026 08:39:52 +0100 switzerlands-controversial-anti-immigration-proposal-to-be-voted-on-in-june In their bid to limit immigration from the European Union, the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) has spelled out what steps should be taken to achieve this goal. But many ‘unknowns’ still remain. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260127/swiss-anti-immigration-proposal-leaves-many-unanswered-questions Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:29:26 +0100 swiss-anti-immigration-proposal-leaves-many-unanswered-questions 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 Swiss voters will soon have their say on a hard-right, anti-immigration proposal that aims to limit the country's population, but this week senators in the country made it clear where they stand. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251216/it-would-only-cause-damage-swiss-senators-reject-plan-to-cut-immigration Tue, 16 Dec 2025 11:38:11 +0100 it-would-only-cause-damage-swiss-senators-reject-plan-to-cut-immigration Though the government and the majority of political parties are urging voters to reject the hard-right’s proposal to limit the number of foreigners coming to Switzerland, nearly half of Swiss citizens support the measure, a new poll reveals. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251209/latest-polls-reveal-swiss-anti-immigration-initiative-has-strong-voter-support Tue, 09 Dec 2025 13:31:42 +0100 latest-polls-reveal-swiss-anti-immigration-initiative-has-strong-voter-support Besides the national referendum on obligatory civic duty and tax for the super-rich – both of which were soundly rejected at the polls on Sunday - voters in some Swiss cantons also cast their ballots on issues of local importance. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251201/results-how-did-swiss-cantons-vote-in-key-november-referendums Mon, 01 Dec 2025 12:40:28 +0100 results-how-did-swiss-cantons-vote-in-key-november-referendums Swiss voters on Sunday resoundingly rejected a proposal to replace the current men-only military conscription with a compulsory civic duty for all and another on taxing the super-rich to fund the climate fight. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251130/breaking-initial-projections-indicate-failure-for-both-swiss-referendum-proposals Sun, 30 Nov 2025 13:19:13 +0100 breaking-initial-projections-indicate-failure-for-both-swiss-referendum-proposals Two key issues were at stake in a national referendum in September 28th - one that affects rent and the other was the controversial subject of electronic ID. These are the results, and what they mean to you. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250929/swiss-voters-back-introduction-of-electronic-id Mon, 29 Sep 2025 13:01:42 +0200 swiss-voters-back-introduction-of-electronic-id Aside from the national referendums on September 28th, Swiss citizens will also cast their votes on various issues locally. This is what’s at stake in cities and cantons.. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250905/foreigners-rights-and-leaf-blowers-what-swiss-cantons-and-cities-will-vote-on Fri, 05 Sep 2025 18:27:40 +0200 foreigners-rights-and-leaf-blowers-what-swiss-cantons-and-cities-will-vote-on You may not have noticed, unless you pay attention to such things, but the Swiss government has already published dates for national referendums for the next…20 years. Why? https://www.thelocal.ch/20230105/why-has-switzerland-set-dates-for-referendums-up-to-the-year-2042 Thu, 05 Jan 2023 13:46:44 +0100 why-has-switzerland-set-dates-for-referendums-up-to-the-year-2042