Author: switzerlandtimes.ch

Switzerland’s Ascension holiday weekend once again brought heavy traffic to the country’s roads, with long queues forming at the Gotthard tunnel despite expanded rail services to southern Switzerland. After tailbacks of nearly 10km on Wednesday, traffic heading south continued to build on Thursday, particularly along the A2 motorway leading to the Gotthard Road Tunnel, reported RTS. By midday, the Touring Club Switzerland reported a queue stretching 10km between Erstfeld and Göschenen on the northern approach to the tunnel. Drivers faced delays of around one hour and 40 minutes before entering the tunnel. Traffic gradually eased later in the afternoon. Alternative…

Switzerland’s existing nuclear power plants could remain in operation for up to 80 years, according to a new report by the federal government, which argues that long-term operation is both technically feasible and economically viable. A memorandum from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy had already concluded in 2024 that extending the lifespan of Swiss reactors beyond 60 years was technically and financially possible. The government now says that further operation over an 80-year period would require investments of between CHF 700m and CHF 1.2bn per plant for upgrades and maintenance. Those costs are expected to be commercially worthwhile. From…

A study has found that a “yes” vote on the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) initiative would impose considerable costs on Switzerland. The study was conducted by Demgrafik, a research and consulting firm based in Basel. Its authors argue that curbing population growth would bring some benefits, easing pressure on housing, infrastructure and the environment, as well as on means-tested welfare programmes such as social assistance. But these gains would be outweighed by the costs. The study says the finances Switzerland’s pay-as-you-go state pension system, would deteriorate by several billion Swiss francs a year for decades. Tax revenues would fall faster…

Groups backing and opposing the initiative have amassed CHF 15m for the campaign, an unprecedented sum, reports RTS. Campaign budgets ahead of the June 14th referendum have reached a record high, largely because of the “No Switzerland of 10m people” initiative. According to figures published on Friday by the Federal Audit Office, more than CHF 15m has already been declared. That far exceeds the previous record of roughly CHF 10m, set during the November 2024 vote on motorway expansion. Swiss law requires the disclosure of donations above CHF 50,000. Contributions to campaign committees must be itemised individually once they exceed…

The Office World Group is focusing its sales to smaller retail customers on the growing online offering of its officeworld.ch platform. It is therefore phasing out its high-street sales in stages by spring 2027. This will affect 45 full-time positions across ten branches. Office World is deliberately involving the affected staff in the process at an early stage to provide them with the best possible support. As early as March 2026, Office World personally informed staff at its ten branches about the future direction of the business. “It is a bitter truth: but in the long term, the costs and revenue…

Swiss glaciers are emerging from winter with unusually little snow, leaving them poorly protected ahead of the summer melt season. According to the latest report from the Swiss Glacier Monitoring Network (GLAMOS), measurements taken on 25 glaciers in April and early May showed significantly below-average snow cover. Snow depth ranged from one to four metres depending on the region, but overall glaciers held around 25% less winter snow than the average recorded between 2010 and 2020. Snow acts as a protective layer for glaciers during the warmer months. The thicker the snowpack in spring, the longer underlying ice is shielded…

For decades Zug has been synonymous with low corporate taxes. But according to a new analysis by PwC, Luzern has now edged ahead. The consulting firm calculates Luzern’s maximum effective corporate-tax rate at 11.66% in 2026, marginally below Zug’s 11.71%. At the other end of the scale, companies in Bern and Zurich face effective rates of around 20%—see full tax rate comparison here. Individual taxes are different. On these Zug (10.1% on CHF 100,000) retains an edge over Luzern (14.79% on CHF 100,000) —see more rates here. Effective rates can differ from actual tax paidThe rates actually paid by companies…

The Green Party want to turn turmoil in the Middle East into an opportunity to reduce Switzerland’s reliance on fossil fuels and ease pressure on household budgets. Among the measures proposed by the party is an 80km/h speed limit on motorways, reports RTS. In an interview with SonntagsZeitung, Lisa Mazzone, the party’s president, argued that slower driving would reduce fuel consumption at a time when petrol prices have risen sharply following the conflict involving Iran—unleaded petrol is around 10% more expensive and diesel is up around 20%. Ms Mazzone pointed to the 1973 oil crisis, when Swiss authorities temporarily imposed…

The spring narcissus bloom in Switzerland’s riviera region, a star tourist attraction of the Belle Epoque – the 30 to 40 years before the war in 1914 – was described as the “snow of May” by Ernest Hemingway in his novel A Farewell to Arms. The book is about two lovers who reunite in Switzerland to escape the war. The fields of white flowers allude to peace, renewal and beauty, contrasting the hardship and chaos of war. While the flower bloom is not as plentiful as it once was – the effects of farming, farm chemicals and urbanisation – it…

If the upcoming votes had been held at the end of April, the “No to 10 Million Switzerland” initiative would have been tied, according to the latest SRG poll run by GFS Bern. Changes to the Civil Service Act would have passed. On June 14th 2026 Swiss voters will decide on two federal measures: a popular initiative aimed at preventing Switzerland’s population from exceeding 10m, and amendments to the Civil Service Act. Voting intentions % of respondents ProposalIn favourUndecidedAgainst“No to 10 Million Switzerland” initiative47647Civil Service Act52840 Survey conducted April 20th-May 3rd 2026. Margin of error: ±2.8 percentage points. Source: GFS…