The Local Switzerland

Swiss foreign office apparently prepared to mediate in Spanish-Catalan stalemate

Fri, 06 Oct 2017 11:16:22 +0200

The Swiss government told Swiss public broadcaster RTS that it was creating a platform for dialogue.

Ignazio Cassis is elected Switzerland’s new federal councillor

Wed, 20 Sep 2017 12:25:18 +0200

Switzerland has a new federal councillor. Ignazio Cassis was on Wednesday elected by parliament to the seat left vacant by outgoing minister Didier Burkhalter.

Swiss government’s tax reform plan crushed by voters

Mon, 13 Feb 2017 10:33:06 +0100

The government lost an important referendum on Sunday as Swiss voters disagreed with a plan to reform the corporate tax system.

Bern calls for new office to debate questions of religion

Tue, 07 Feb 2017 10:27:30 +0100

Is a burqa ban against the Swiss constitution? How do you deal with a Muslim schoolboy who refuses to shake his female teacher’s hand? Do burkinis contravene swimming pool hygiene rules?

Swiss foreign minister slams Trump’s travel ban

Mon, 30 Jan 2017 10:48:55 +0100

President Trump’s ban on immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries “goes in the wrong direction,” Swiss foreign minister Didier Burkhalter has said.

European court: Switzerland violated law on torture

Thu, 26 Jan 2017 13:00:32 +0100

The European Court of Human Rights has ordered Switzerland to pay 30,000 euros compensation to a Sri Lankan who was deported from Switzerland and subsequently arrested and beaten in Colombo.

Campaigners demand referendum on Swiss government's immigration decision

Wed, 25 Jan 2017 11:03:46 +0100

The Swiss people may get to have another say on immigration thanks to a group of citizens who are pushing for a referendum on the government’s decision to water down the 2014 anti-immigration initiative.

Tibet demo in Bern precedes first Chinese state visit for 18 years

Thu, 12 Jan 2017 13:27:34 +0100

Tibetans in Switzerland and their supporters will hold a demonstration in Bern on Sunday ahead of the state visit of China’s President, Xi Jinping.

Video: Swiss government sings ‘Bernhemian Rhapsody’

Wed, 04 Jan 2017 10:15:56 +0100

When the Swiss Federal Council released its official photo for 2017 on New Year’s Eve it caused quite a stir, becoming a trending topic in Switzerland on Twitter.

Plan to cut aerobatic team raises hackles

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 19:38:00 +0100

Many Swiss were outraged Wednesday after hearing that the country's beloved aerobatic red planes with their characteristic white crosses, the Patrouille Suisse, will be cut from the Swiss air force by 2016.

Right-wing Maurer elected Swiss president

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 11:35:00 +0100

Swiss People’s Party (SVP) cabinet minister Ueli Maurer was elected Swiss president for the coming year in a vote on Wednesday by the federal assembly, a joint meeting of the upper and lower houses of parliament.

German anti-noise campaigners are 'Taliban': Swiss minister

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:41:00 +0200

Swiss government minister Doris Leuthard has caused a furore by comparing southern German anti-airport noise campaigners with Taliban terrorists during a panel discussion in Zürich on Monday.