Switzerland Today

Dear Swiss Abroad,

Regards from Bern! The first Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) poll ahead of the federal vote on March 3 has been released, when Swiss voters cast their ballot on two people's initiatives on the Swiss pension payment system and retirement age. So how did the people respond to these initiatives?

In today’s briefing, we go over the results of the poll, and see how you Swiss Abroad voters differ from your fellow Swiss at home. But first let’s take a look at the news.

In the news: the deputy director for the Swiss foreign ministry exits and a new director for the Swiss Red Cross enters:

• Deputy director exits amid controversy over NGO activities in Israel-Palestine: the Swiss foreign ministry confirmed information from Swiss public television, RTS, yesterday without commenting on the reasons.
• More non-denominational people than Catholics in Switzerland for the first time: at 34% of the population, the number of those with no religious affiliation has overtaken Catholics (32%).
• Mining giant with Swiss ties fined for dam failure in Brazil: Brazilian mining giant Vale, which has its administrative headquarters in St Prex in canton Vaud, and two other mining groups will have to pay the equivalent of 46.7 billion reals (CHF8.4 billion) for the damage caused by the 2015 failure of a tailings dam in Brazil.
• Pfizer 2024 Prize awarded to 13 young scientists: ten women are among the 13 winners.
• Corbassière glacier can no longer provide reliable information on past climate and atmospheric pollution: it is melting faster than previously thought, according to a study by Swiss and Italian scientists published in the journal Nature Geoscience.
• Seven Swiss films to be shown at the Berlinale.
• Nora Kronig Romero named director of Swiss Red Cross.
• Half of Swiss people drive to work: half use the car, 29% public transport and 18% walk or cycle.

Suspense surrounding the retirement and pension initiatives

On March 3, Swiss voters head to the ballot box where they will vote on two people’s initiatives affecting pensioners.

The first initiative, “Better living in retirement”, put forth a proposal for a 13th pension payment, similar to the 13th monthly salary that is widespread in Switzerland.

According to the results of the first Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) poll carried out in early January by the gfs.bern institute, 61% of domestic Swiss voters are currently in favour of the initiative while 36% are opposed and 3% are undecided.

While there is a slight majority of domestic voters who are currently in favour of the “Better living in retirement” initiative, 80% felt it would be a decisive step towards improving the financial situation of pensioners.

One argument against the initiative that managed to sway those polled: 55% of those questioned believe that the additional pension would lead to an increase in value-added tax (VAT) and social security contributions deducted from salaries. However, only 41% thought the implementation of the 13th payment of old-age and survivors’ pension would jeopardise the Swiss pension system.

However, you, dear Swiss Abroad, have a more pronounced support in the first opinion poll: 80% of you polled were in support of the initiative. gfs.bern political scientist Martina Mousson says this difference is “difficult to explain”.  

The initiative to raise the retirement age to 66, put forth by the young Radical-Liberals, has a 53% rejection rate in this first poll. The young Radical-Liberals’ retirement age proposal was backed by data which shows an increase in life expectancy rates and is presented as a solution to the problem of financing pensions.

Here again, you Swiss Abroad polled slightly differently from the Swiss at home. Slightly more of you Swiss Abroad support the initiative: 46% support the initiative to raise the retirement age. This is said to be explained by the fact that you may not be as affected by the retirement age as your fellow Swiss at home.

The electorate for the Radical-Liberal Party are looking as if they will stand alone on the dance floor with this proposal. All other party voters polled came out against the initiative.  

An argument against the initiative touches on income inequality: 67% of those surveyed felt the initiative would increase injustice, since those well-off enough would still be able to retire before reaching the mandated retirement age.

However, 53% of the individuals surveyed recognise that raising the retirement age, a measure already taken in other European countries, was necessary to finance the Swiss pension system in the long term.

SWI swissinfo.ch journalist Katy Romy questions if the results of the first Swiss Broadcasting Corporation poll shows a decisive majority with the Swiss voters. “The question remains open,” Romy writes.

The second opinion poll, which is to be published on February 21, should be more revealing.

If you have an opinion on the matter, let us know in the “dialogue” below!

PLACEHOLDER