Author: switzerlandtimes.ch

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…

The 31% tariffs announced by the Trump administration this week, were described by some analysts as like taking a sledgehammer to Swiss trade. Some industries are already eyeing alternative markets to cushion the blow, reported RTS. However, Switzerland’s industry sectors will feel the impact of new American tariffs unevenly. While the pharmaceutical industry has so far escaped largely unscathed, other sectors are more exposed. Watchmakers, for whom the US accounts for around 20% of sales, face a heavy blow. Machinery, precision instruments and electrical equipment could see losses of up to CHF 2 billion. Agri-food exporters, including chocolate and cheese…

Following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 31% tariff on Swiss goods, the Federal Council has opted for diplomacy over retaliation, it announced on Thursday. It said it will closely examine the measures and their implications but has no immediate plans to introduce countermeasures. The Swiss government expressed concern over the steep tariffs, describing them as particularly punitive. The Federal Council does not endorse the actions of the US administration and will work to clarify any misunderstandings, it said in a statement on Thursday – see press release. The government regrets Washington’s move away from rules-based trade but seeks dialogue…

Switzerland’s Federal Council is seeking to lift the country’s ban on new nuclear power plants. This week, it presented a counter-proposal to the “Stop Blackout” initiative aimed at securing the country’s energy supply, reported RTS. However, many political parties, cantons and energy stakeholders remain unconvinced. Opposition from the Green Party, the Green Liberals and the Socialist Party was expected. Now the Centre party, which had until recently avoided voicing a clear stance, has also come out against the move. In its submission, the party argues that legal changes enabling a return to nuclear energy would contradict the 2017 referendum result,…

This week, modelling published by the Zurich Office for Economic Affairs, shows a significant shortage of workers emerging in the canton by 2050. Within 25 years, Zurich will have tens of thousands of workers less than it needs, despite a growing population. The modelling shows that as more people retire from the workforce than enter it, a gap will open up. According to the authors, immigration will not solve the problem because the shift will be too fast and too significant. In 60 years, birth rates in the canton have dropped from 2.7 to 1.3. By the 2040s, those born…

This week, the Green Party and the environmental group actif-trafiC announced they had gathered enough signatures to trigger a vote to overturn a government decision to cut subsidies for overnight trains. Together, they presented 58,640 signatures to officials in Bern. In Switzerland, a referendum can be called to overturn a government decision if at least 50,000 valid signatures are collected. By contrast, for votes aiming to initiate a change, the minimum number of signatures is 100,000. In October, the Federal Council announced a decision to axe a CHF 30 million annual subsidy to support the operation of night trains between…

This week, the shut down of The Body Shop in Switzerland was announced, reported SRF. The brand’s 33 remaining shops will close in May 2025. The Body Shop Switzerland is a franchise owned and operated by the Coop supermarket group. Coop has said that it will not extend the franchise contract, which ends in May 2025. The Body Shop brand’s market positioning is no longer unique, said the group. The Body Shop, which was founded in 1976 in Brighton, England has been struggling for years. It has been sold several times, and in many countries it has faced bankruptcy. Anita…

The canton of Zug recently tightened its citizenship laws. Since 1 January 2025, the rules for applying to become Swiss in the canton are more strict. In the months before these changes came into force, the number of applications skyrocketed, reported RTS. The requirements for becoming Swiss have federal, cantonal and municipal elements. This means that citizenship is easier to obtain in some parts of Switzerland than in others. The cost of applying also vary, often significantly. The canton of Zug has raised the citizenship bar in three areas. The first relates to welfare. Previously, applicants had to have not…

Across Switzerland, there were 0.49 serious car accident per 10,000 residents involving alcohol in 2023, reported Touring Club Switzerland (TCS). However, some cantons had rates well above this average, with the canton of Geneva in the lead. In 2023, there were 1.09 serious car accident per 10,000 residents involving alcohol in Geneva, a number more than double the Swiss average (0.49). The canton has seen a consistent rise in serious alcohol related accidents since 2017. There were 0.76, 0.81, 1.00, 1.01, 0.95 and 1.04 serious alcohol-related accidents in Geneva in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively. In 2023,…

A poll published on 20 December 2024 suggests next February’s referendum on the environment is likely to fail, reported RTS. The initiative is vague, however, it aims to reduce economic activity and consumption to a level that allows the environment to regenerate back to its natural level. The natural resources used and the pollution emitted by economic activity should not exceed the capacity of nature to regenerate. The plan does not set out concrete measures on how to achieve this, but requires it to be achieved within 10 years. A survey run by gfs.bern shows that 49% support the initiative.…