Swiss perspectives in 10 languages

Fresh protests over Covid policy mobilise thousands in Switzerland

A rally in Lausanne saying  No to the health pass and the restriction of our freedoms
A rally in Lausanne saying "No to the health pass and the restriction of our freedoms" Keystone / Jean-christophe Bott

Several Swiss cities witnessed demonstrations against the government's Covid-19 policy on Saturday, notably the recent imposition of a Covid certificate requirement to enter indoor areas like restaurants.

Between 800 and 1,000 people took to the streets in a colourful, whistleblowing procession in French-speaking Lausanne. In German-speaking Switzerland the largest demonstration took place in Rapperswil-Jona in canton St Gallen, mobilising about 3,000 people.

In Lausanne, some demonstrators demanded the resignation of Health Minister Alain Berset likening him to a “dictator”. 

“Berset, we don’t want your passports” and “Liberté (Freedom)” chanted the participants, who were walking without protective masks, according to the Swiss News Agency Keystone-SDA.

Protest signs read: “No to mass surveillance” and “For security we lose freedom”.

The Covid certificate, in the view of demonstrators in Lausanne, is a Nazi-like passport (or a tool for discrimination). Demonstrators distributed leaflets urging people to vote against the government’s approach in a referendum on November 28.

  + Swiss Covid law set for second public vote

Rallies drew more than 1,000 demonstrators in the the northern town of Baden and about 400 in Lugano, the third demonstration held in the southernmost, Italian-speaking canton of Ticino.

Such events have become a weekly phenomenon and at times turn unruly and violent. No incidents were reported by police on Saturday.

Demonstration ni Bern
Police accompanied the unauthorised demonstration in the capital without intervening. Banners reflected a perception that opposition to the government’s Covid policy is the product of far-right ideologies. Keystone / Marcel Bieri

Counteraction

A rally in support of the government’s policies gathered about 300 people in the capital Bern. Demonstrators there generally donned masks and some carried banners urging “Solidarity in the face of the crisis – solidarity against the Right”.

Many nations around the world have introduced vaccine mandates and digital health certificates (proving immunity or immunisation) in a bid to bring the coronavirus pandemic under control. 

Globally, 5.5 billion vaccine dosesExternal link have been administered, according to the World Health Organization, but 80% of those are in high- and upper-middle-income countries.

In Switzerland, around 61% of the population are fully vaccinated against Covid. Swiss residents are required to show a  Covid certificate to access indoor spaces like restaurants, bars and museums.

The Covid-19 pandemic – now in its fourth wave – has been punctuated by fierce debates across the world with governments struggling to find the balance between civil liberties and public health. 

Most Read
Swiss Abroad

Most Discussed

News

More heavy metal detected in Swiss grassland

More

Study finds more heavy metal detected in Swiss grassland

This content was published on Copper and zinc can be expected to accumulate in the soil, particularly if farmyard manure is used for several years and is greater than the amount of nutrients absorbed by the grass. This was announced by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) on Friday. The findings are based on the results of the seventh National Soil Monitoring of Switzerland (Nabo).

Read more: Study finds more heavy metal detected in Swiss grassland
The Federal Administrative Court in St Gallen, Switzerland.

More

Court rules al-Qaeda supporter can stay in Switzerland

This content was published on A Kurdish supporter of the Islamist terrorist network al-Qaeda can stay in Switzerland, the Federal Administrative Court has ruled. It has withdrawn the annulment of the man’s provisional admission.

Read more: Court rules al-Qaeda supporter can stay in Switzerland
Dieselgate scandal: In 2015 it emerged that millions of VW diesel-powered vehicles had been manipulated to pass environmental standards.

More

Swiss prosecutors close VW ‘Dieselgate’ case

This content was published on The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) has closed criminal proceedings relating to the Swiss owners affected by the Volkswagen “Dieselgate” emissions scandal.

Read more: Swiss prosecutors close VW ‘Dieselgate’ case
Employment prospects remain stable in the fourth quarter

More

Q4 job prospects in Switzerland remain stable

This content was published on The employment outlook in Switzerland will remain stable towards the end of 2024, according to the KOF Swiss Economic Institute at ETH Zurich.

Read more: Q4 job prospects in Switzerland remain stable
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago estate Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Palm Beach, Florida.

More

Swiss woman accuses Donald Trump of sexual assault

This content was published on A former Miss Switzerland candidate has accused Donald Trump of sexually assaulting her in New York in 1993. The US Republican candidate’s campaign team has denied the accusations.

Read more: Swiss woman accuses Donald Trump of sexual assault

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR