Switzerland Today
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For many people Covid-19 has changed everything. But in other ways life goes on very much as normal. A poll published today confirms Switzerland’s incredible political stability, while another new survey shows how the Swiss love of guns remains strong – despite the pandemic and a more restrictive law.
In the news: Polls, algorithms and a Netflix law
- Seven weeks before the Swiss go to the polls, a Tamedia survey reveals that 63% of voters would back the Covid-19 law that is being challenged by opponents. An initiative to improve nurses’ working conditions would also be accepted (82% in favour), while the appointment of judges by lot would be refused (48% in favour).
- Swiss scientists have helped to develop an algorithm to rate scenic landscapes. Why? “The data provides a combination of information about the state of the environment and how people interact with it,” said EPFL researcher Devis Tuia. They believe it can help “support environmental conservation policies across Europe”.
- Switzerland’s so-called “Netflix law” is deceitful and irrelevant, especially for young people, say young centre and rightwing parties that have launched a referendum against itExternal link. Due to the increasing number of online platforms, parliament came up with a project to protect the independent Swiss film industry. It wants streaming services like Netflix and foreign broadcasters like TF1 or M6 to allocate 4% of their gross revenue in Switzerland to the sector. Also, 30% of their output must be European films.
The Covid-19 pandemic has a limited impact on the Swiss political agenda.
In its second Election Barometer since the 2019 parliamentary term, the Sotomo research institute revealed that the rightwing People’s Party appears to have regained public support, while climate protection is back at the top of the Swiss political agenda.
Based on the poll results, the People’s Party is clearly ahead (26.6% of voters’ support), followed by the Social Democratic Party (15.8%), then the Radical Liberal Party (13.6%), the Centre (13.3%), the Greens (13.2%) and the Liberal Greens (9.8%).
The researchers identified climate change, including greenhouse gas emissions, as the top political priority for Swiss citizens, followed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The reform of the state old-age pension system, relations with the EU and immigration follow, ahead of social security. Concerns about the economy and unemployment are lower down the list.
Why are many Swiss refusing to get a Covid jab?
Around 61% of the Swiss population are fully vaccinated against Covid. This is lower than in many other western European countries and insufficient to allow Switzerland to end Covid prevention measures, say federal health officials.
The government has launched a major vaccination drive to persuade the hesitant. It says around one million more people need to get inoculated for a more stable situation. Why are the Swiss among some of the most reluctant to get a Covid jab? Heidi NewsExternal link has taken a look at Swiss attitudes identified in a global Covid behaviour studyExternal link.
The extensive online survey found that more than half of those who are unvaccinated in more than 50 countries said they definitely or probably won’t get a Covid-19 vaccine. For the unvaccinated in Switzerland, three-quarters say their mind is made up and that they “absolutely” will not be vaccinated in the future. Some 62% say this is because they are “concerned” about side effects, while half (49%) say they “do not need” a Covid-19 vaccine; most say this is because they are “not a member of a high-risk group”.
The Swiss love guns.
According to the Tages-AnzeigerExternal link, which carried out a survey in Swiss cantons, the number of rifles and pistols owned by private individuals is increasing, despite a more restrictive law in force.
Switzerland has one of the highest gun ownership rates in the world because of its militia army. It is estimated that over two million guns are in private hands, for a population of 8.6 million. In May 2019, Swiss voters agreed to tighten the country’s gun law, restricting ownership of semi-automatic weapons to bring it in line with the European Union. It was thought that this could lead to fewer guns in circulation and a declining interest in shooting.
But the Tages-Anzeiger found that last year 30,000 gun licences were issued despite dealers, shooting events and fairs being closed due to the pandemic. This is slightly below 2019 (34,000 licences) – a record year. Over the past ten years there has been a boom in gun ownership, said the paper, with the number of new permits almost doubling in most cantons.
Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss on Covid-19, Biden, the EU and the People’s Party.
The Swiss businessman and philanthropist Hansjörg Wyss (photo above), the US-based founder of the Synthes medical technology group, is one of the richest people in the world (280th) with an estimated fortune of CHF6 billion ($6.48 billion), according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
The 86-year-old is also a big mover-and-shaker, who not only donates to universities and research but whose money reportedlyExternal link helped Democrats secure the White House and Senate last year.
In a long interview with Blick.chExternal link, he dismisses this last claim. “I didn’t donate a cent to a candidate in the 2020 US election. Firstly, I am not allowed to, secondly, I do not want to,” he said.
The Swiss billionaire has lived for 40 years in the US but visits Switzerland four times a year. In the interview he talks at length about the state of Covid vaccinations in the two countries, relations with the European Union, and the Swiss People’s Party, among other issues.
“I’m one hundred percent Swiss. But when I get back to Boston, I’ll be American again through and through. I like life in the USA and Switzerland,” he says.
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