Switzerland Today
Dear Swiss Abroad,
The Fasnacht festivities are in full swing in Bern. For many this means good times with dancing and drinking. But one canton is asking its residents to give their livers a break.
Before we head into the festive weekend, there is still news on the agenda. The finance commission of the House of Representatives has given its recommendation on the Swiss government’s controversial savings plan. This will set the tone for parliamentary debates in March.
Wishing you a sunny weekend!
The House of Representatives’ finance committee has largely aligned itself with the Senate on the government’s savings package 27. Two measures affecting the Swiss Abroad have been removed from the austerity package.
The Senate approved the government’s savings package 27 in December, with many proposals for amendments. Today, the House of Representatives’ finance committee announced its recommendations for the spring session, which runs from March 2 to 20.
It largely follows the decisions of the Senate. This also applies to the funds for the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC)’s international mandate, amounting to CHF19 million ($24.46 million) per year. Like the Senate, the House of Representatives’ finance committee also wants to remove this measure from the austerity package. This money goes to the Swissinfo and Tvsizzera platforms and to partnerships with the international broadcasters TV5 Monde and 3Sat. In December, a petition with more than 17,000 signatures was submitted to oppose this cut.
Unlike the Senate, however, the committee also recommends sparing federal contributions to the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) from the austerity measures. This amounts to several hundred thousand Swiss francs per year. “It’s a small amount, and every item on the savings list has strong advocates. In this case, they prevailed,” says Simon Stadler, a Centre Party parliamentarian and vice president of the committee.
The austerity package now comprises 65 proposals. The House of Representatives’ finance committee agrees with the Senate on 47 of these. Its proposal would generate savings of CHF5.9 billion over three years. This is more than the Senate approved, but around a third less than the government initially proposed. Parliament aims to finalise the package during the spring session, including resolving any remaining differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Following peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Geneva, Switzerland attended the inaugural meeting of United States President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” in an observer capacity.
Representing Switzerland in Washington was Monika Schmutz Kirgöz, head of the Middle East and North Africa division at the foreign ministry. She told Swiss public radio, SRF, what took place during the first meeting and how Switzerland’s participation might develop.
Taking the stage, Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, told the audience that the Board of Peace would be run like the board meeting of a large private company. Around the metaphorical boardroom table were 27 participating countries – many from the Gulf states. A further 22 attended as observers, including the European Union. FIFA also announced a formal partnership with Trump’s “Board of Peace”.
The discussions focused primarily on Gaza, said Schmutz Kirgöz. This was the reason Switzerland accepted the invitation to observe, as the foreign ministry is heavily involved in the Gaza Strip. “That’s why it was important for us to be present, to see where things are headed,” she said.
As for Switzerland’s future role, Schmutz Kirgöz said that potential membership would depend on the Swiss government and the will of the Swiss people.
However, participation in Trump’s Board of Peace faces criticism, as it could be viewed as a competitor to the United Nations, headquartered in Geneva. “Multilateralism and international law are central to us,” Schmutz Kirgöz said. “When it comes to Gaza, this is based on a UN resolution … Switzerland can always mediate.”
In the past year, Switzerland’s IT sector has faced a wave of layoffs. Now there may be some good news for industry employees: Jeff Bezos is opening offices in Zurich for “Project Prometheus”, a billion-dollar AI start-up.
Named after the Greek Titan who defied the Olympian gods by bringing fire to humankind, Project Prometheus has $6.2 billion (CHF4.8 billion) in seed capital. Although the company was only established in November last year, it is one of the best-funded young firms globally, writes the Tages Anzeiger.
The company is focusing on AI to support Bezos’s goal of taking people into outer space and to develop applications in engineering and manufacturing, including computers, aerospace and automobiles.
Last year the company was reported to have hired 100 people. The Tages Anzeiger now reports three employees have so far been recruited for the Zurich office.
Zurich continues to attract technology companies, thanks in part to the federal technology institute ETH Zurich. Google alone employs around 5,000 people in the city. However, the presence of global tech companies in Zurich remains a topic of debate. Supporters highlight their role in driving economic growth and innovation. Critics point to challenges including gentrification and rising rents. and increased societal influence.
What are you giving up for Lent (if anything), dear Swiss Abroad? Canton Schwyz is asking its residents to “give your liver a break” following the Fasnacht festivities
Fasnacht in Switzerland – and carnival celebrations around the world – are known for costumes, satire and, for many, alcohol. This is why canton Schwyz is launching an “Alcohol-Free Time” campaign.
While many people take part in “Dry January”, a trend popularised by social media in which individuals abstain from alcohol during the first month of the year, the cantonal health authorities in Schwyz say it can be difficult to motivate participation as some Fasnacht celebrations begin in January. The authorities have therefore introduced a new “Alcohol-Free Time” campaign starting after Fasnacht and running throughout Lent.
“The aim is to give participants the opportunity to experience what happens when you don’t drink alcohol for a while,” says Christa Rudolf von Rohr of Gesundheit Schwyz. Figures from 2022 show that people in canton Schwyz consume more alcohol than the Swiss average.
Last year, three times as many women as men took part in the “Alcohol-Free Time” campaign, even though men across Switzerland drink more and more frequently than women. Social pressure remains a hurdle for many participants. Rudolf von Rohr advises people to mention that they are taking part in the “Alcohol-Free Time” project – “it helps”, she says.
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