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 local referendums held in November, voters in two cantons refused to give voting rights to their longterm foreign residents. The result was part of an established trend in Switzerland, to the frustration of many. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251202/why-shouldnt-foreign-residents-in-switzerland-have-more-voting-rights Tue, 02 Dec 2025 14:09:53 +0100 why-shouldnt-foreign-residents-in-switzerland-have-more-voting-rights Non-EU nationals living in Europe don't have many voting rights but some countries do allow them to cast a ballot in local elections. Here's what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220218/explained-where-in-europe-can-non-eu-foreigners-vote-in-local-elections Fri, 18 Feb 2022 12:40:39 +0100 explained-where-in-europe-can-non-eu-foreigners-vote-in-local-elections US President Donald Trump signed his latest executive order on Tuesday, which aims to tighten requirements to register to vote. Here's how it affects the voting rights of Americans in Europe. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250327/what-trumps-voting-executive-order-means-for-americans-in-europe Thu, 27 Mar 2025 11:46:18 +0100 what-trumps-voting-executive-order-means-for-americans-in-europe On November 24th, voters in Basel-City rejected a proposal to grant foreign nationals living in their midst more political rights. Similar moves have been turned down elsewhere in Switzerland as well but is it fair that foreigners get no say in Swiss life? https://www.thelocal.ch/20241127/analysis-is-it-fair-foreign-residents-dont-have-more-say-in-switzerland Wed, 27 Nov 2024 16:36:28 +0100 analysis-is-it-fair-foreign-residents-dont-have-more-say-in-switzerland On September 3rd 2024, Bern's parliament accepted the motion to grant foreigners the right to vote on a municipal level. If this move goes through, Bern will join a handful of other cantons that allow non-Swiss to participate in their communities' politics. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200923/where-in-switzerland-can-foreigners-vote Wed, 23 Sep 2020 18:59:06 +0200 where-in-switzerland-can-foreigners-vote As primary elections hot up across the United States, here's everything Americans in Europe need to know about voting from overseas. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240115/how-americans-in-europe-can-vote-in-the-us-primary-elections Mon, 15 Jan 2024 14:57:03 +0100 how-americans-in-europe-can-vote-in-the-us-primary-elections The UK has changed its rules on overseas voting, meaning that thousands of Brits living in Europe will be eligible to vote in the next general election - and voter registration opens on Tuesday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240115/uk-to-open-voter-registration-for-brits-in-europe-as-15-year-rule-finally-ends Mon, 15 Jan 2024 17:44:18 +0100 uk-to-open-voter-registration-for-brits-in-europe-as-15-year-rule-finally-ends Anyone who lives in Switzerland will be familiar with the sight of clipboard-wielding signature collectors working the crowd in busy public places. Their presence used to be a sign of a healthy democracy in action. Not any more, writes Clare O’Dea. https://www.thelocal.ch/20231124/opinion-switzerlands-signature-collectors-are-cheapening-its-democracy Fri, 24 Nov 2023 10:53:35 +0100 opinion-switzerlands-signature-collectors-are-cheapening-its-democracy Swiss nationals in the canton of Vaud are likely to be given the chance to vote in a referendum on cantonal voting rights for foreigners. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230810/swiss-citizens-in-vaud-set-to-have-their-say-on-foreigners-rights-to-vote Thu, 10 Aug 2023 15:17:12 +0200 swiss-citizens-in-vaud-set-to-have-their-say-on-foreigners-rights-to-vote Switzerland's National Council has rejected two parliamentary initiatives that would have given foreigners in Switzerland more voting rights. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220608/swiss-mps-refuse-to-extend-voting-rights-for-foreigners Wed, 08 Jun 2022 14:27:57 +0200 swiss-mps-refuse-to-extend-voting-rights-for-foreigners British citizens living abroad will no longer lose their right to vote in UK elections if they have been abroad for over 15 years, after a long-term government pledge finally became law. Here's what we know about the new rules. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210527/british-citizens-living-in-europe-finally-get-right-to-vote-for-life Thu, 27 May 2021 18:59:05 +0200 british-citizens-living-in-europe-finally-get-right-to-vote-for-life Military service is mandatory only for men in Switzerland, but a new movement may change all that. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220428/will-switzerland-introduce-obligatory-military-service-for-women Thu, 28 Apr 2022 16:31:46 +0200 will-switzerland-introduce-obligatory-military-service-for-women Switzerland's regular referendums are a key feature of its unique democracy. But how does it all work? We go behind the scenes. https://www.thelocal.ch/20180523/how-switzerlands-direct-democracy-system-works Wed, 23 May 2018 18:41:00 +0200 how-switzerlands-direct-democracy-system-works Switzerland will mark 50 years since women won the vote on Sunday -- dismally late for a country that prides itself on having one of the oldest democracies in the world. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210205/switzerland-to-mark-50-years-of-women-voting Fri, 05 Feb 2021 11:38:48 +0100 switzerland-to-mark-50-years-of-women-voting The Bernese region of Moutier will hold another vote on switching cantons. A previous vote, from June 2017, was held invalid. https://www.thelocal.ch/20201008/swiss-region-to-again-vote-on-changing-cantons Thu, 08 Oct 2020 15:35:25 +0200 swiss-region-to-again-vote-on-changing-cantons On Sunday, Switzerland went to the polls to decide on five major questions. Here are six surprise takeaways from Switzerland’s September referendums. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200930/analysis-what-we-learned-from-switzerlands-autumn-referendums Wed, 30 Sep 2020 12:15:10 +0200 analysis-what-we-learned-from-switzerlands-autumn-referendums Switzerland on Sunday rejected the migration limitation referendum. The initiative did however find favour in some Swiss cantons. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200928/which-parts-of-switzerland-supported-the-referendum-to-limit-eu-migration Mon, 28 Sep 2020 15:21:12 +0200 which-parts-of-switzerland-supported-the-referendum-to-limit-eu-migration Swiss voters on Sunday narrowly approved a proposal to spend CHF6 billion on new fighter jets. But when it comes to where not to buy the aircraft, the Swiss populace are a little more decisive. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200928/no-trump-fighter-jets-swiss-say-no-to-buying-american-planes Mon, 28 Sep 2020 18:19:02 +0200 no-trump-fighter-jets-swiss-say-no-to-buying-american-planes Cross-border workers were crucial during the pandemic. Some experts believed they swayed public opinion. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200928/coronavirus-how-the-pandemic-influenced-switzerlands Mon, 28 Sep 2020 15:31:26 +0200 coronavirus-how-the-pandemic-influenced-switzerlands After Swiss voters clearly rejected the initiative to end freedom of movement from the EU, Switzerland is in a stronger position to negotiate the framework agreement with Brussels and must flex its muscles, argues Vincent Bourquin from Le Temps. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200928/opinion-switzerland-is-now-in-a-stronger-position-to-negotiate-with-eu Mon, 28 Sep 2020 13:55:53 +0200 opinion-switzerland-is-now-in-a-stronger-position-to-negotiate-with-eu