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 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 13:36:56 +0200 taxes-and-assisted-dying-what-swiss-cantons-will-on-in-september In the next round of referendums to be held on September 27th, Swiss voters will cast their ballots on locally-grown food supply. But what's it all about? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260831/why-the-swiss-will-vote-on-the-countrys-vital-food-needs Mon, 31 Aug 2026 16:23:18 +0200 why-the-swiss-will-vote-on-the-countrys-vital-food-needs From minimum wages to taxes Swiss voters also cast their ballots on a number of cantonal issues on Sunday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260615/roundup-the-results-of-the-key-swiss-cantonal-referendums-this-june Mon, 15 Jun 2026 12:40:07 +0200 roundup-the-results-of-the-key-swiss-cantonal-referendums-this-june Swiss voters have backed imposing stricter rules for claiming conscientious objection to military service. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260615/swiss-voters-back-stricter-rules-for-conscientious-objection Mon, 15 Jun 2026 10:19:16 +0200 swiss-voters-back-stricter-rules-for-conscientious-objection Swiss authorities and economic players breathed a sigh of relief Sunday after voters narrowly rejected a divisive anti-immigration proposal to cap the country's population, which had sparked warnings of "chaos". https://www.thelocal.ch/20260614/breaking-no-to-10-million-vote-set-for-nail-biting-finish Sun, 14 Jun 2026 12:23:06 +0200 breaking-no-to-10-million-vote-set-for-nail-biting-finish 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 The long and contentious campaign surrounding the hard-right’s bid to thwart population growth in Switzerland by limiting immigration, is coming to an end on June 14th. Here’s a reminder of what’s at stake as the Swiss head to the polls on Sunday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260612/everything-you-need-to-know-to-understand-switzerlands-no-to-10-million-vote Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:25:53 +0200 everything-you-need-to-know-to-understand-switzerlands-no-to-10-million-vote 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 votes on June 14th on an initiative that would seek to stop the country's population hitting 10 million before 2050. Here is an overview of where things stand right now. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260608/switzerlands-population-vote-an-overview Mon, 08 Jun 2026 09:11:51 +0200 switzerlands-population-vote-an-overview At a Swiss nursing home, Marcelle Mivelaz celebrated her 80th birthday surrounded by friends, as a team of mostly foreign nurses and caregivers ensured the day ran smoothly. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260608/swiss-healthcare-united-against-immigration-cap-plan Mon, 08 Jun 2026 09:44:54 +0200 swiss-healthcare-united-against-immigration-cap-plan 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 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 If the far-right's ‘No to 10 million’ initiative is accepted in the June 14th referendum, Switzerland could become a hub of criminal and terrorist activity, a law enforcement official said. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260601/switzerlands-security-to-be-seriously-compromised-if-anti-immigration-vote-wins Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:07:51 +0200 switzerlands-security-to-be-seriously-compromised-if-anti-immigration-vote-wins Swiss voters will go to the ballot box on June 14th to vote on a proposal to limit the country's population by drastically reducing immigration. How worried are you if the anti-foreigner vote passes? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260529/tell-us-are-you-concerned-about-switzerlands-anti-immigration-referendum Fri, 29 May 2026 16:29:31 +0200 tell-us-are-you-concerned-about-switzerlands-anti-immigration-referendum So far, mosty Swiss opponents have spoken out against the far-right’s ‘No to 10 million’ initiative. But as the June 14th referendum date is getting closer, criticism is coming from abroad as well. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260529/a-covert-attack-eu-lawmakers-slam-swiss-anti-immigration-vote Fri, 29 May 2026 10:00:42 +0200 a-covert-attack-eu-lawmakers-slam-swiss-anti-immigration-vote Swiss citizens will finally cast their votes in a long-running debate on whether their country should remain neutral – despite the mounting geopolitical tensions. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260528/the-future-of-swiss-neutrality-to-be-decided-at-the-ballot-box Thu, 28 May 2026 10:34:41 +0200 the-future-of-swiss-neutrality-to-be-decided-at-the-ballot-box Among various potential consequences of the approval of the immigration-curbing proposal, a new study also warns about bottlenecks and congestion at Swiss borders. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260527/switzerland-to-be-hit-by-massive-traffic-jams-if-no-to-10-million-vote-wins Wed, 27 May 2026 15:15:05 +0200 switzerland-to-be-hit-by-massive-traffic-jams-if-no-to-10-million-vote-wins Switzerland’s government has outlined not only the downsides it sees if the ‘No to 10 million’ initiative passes in June, but also some potentially positive aspects of the proposal. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260515/swiss-government-spells-out-the-good-and-the-bad-of-the-no-to-10-million-proposal Fri, 15 May 2026 12:11:31 +0200 swiss-government-spells-out-the-good-and-the-bad-of-the-no-to-10-million-proposal Switzerland relies heavily on people from the EU to fill the gaps in its labour market. A new study shows how significant the shortage could be with the approval of the ‘No to 10 million’ initiative in a referendum on June 14th. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260511/how-bad-would-worker-shortages-be-if-swiss-back-anti-immigration-proposal Mon, 11 May 2026 11:15:08 +0200 how-bad-would-worker-shortages-be-if-swiss-back-anti-immigration-proposal