Switzerland Today
Hello Swiss Abroad,
It’s not a list for Father Christmas, but a well-stocked shopping list that Martin Pfister presented to the media this afternoon. The defence minister’s planned purchases amount to CHF3.4 billion ($4.31 billion) – the price of Switzerland’s rearmament.
Having unveiled his plans, the trickiest part remains finding the funding to pay for it. Pfister wants to increase VAT, but this will be a tough sell in parliament – and an even tougher one with voters.
Enjoy your reading,
This afternoon, Defence Minister Martin Pfister presented his long-awaited Armament Programme 2026 – a delicate undertaking in the current geopolitical climate. He is requesting CHF3.4 billion ($4.31 billion) to strengthen ground-to-air defence, protection against mini-drones and reinforce cybersecurity capabilities.
“Russia’s war against Ukraine marks a watershed in security policy, the repercussions of which are also being felt in Switzerland,” Pfister said at a press conference. In his view, the armed forces must once again focus more strongly on defence and prepare for the most likely threats, namely remote attacks and hybrid conflicts.
Priority is being given to defence against airborne threats. A budget of CHF1.8 billion has been earmarked for the purchase of additional missile systems and the replacement of outdated short-range air defence systems. Protection against mini-drone attacks and cyber threats is also set to be strengthened.
Today, the Swiss government also suspended exports of war materiel to the United States due to the country’s war against in Iran. The decision was taken on the basis of neutrality law. The government also noted that no exports of war materiel to Israel have been authorised for several years.
In view of the current global situation, delegates of the Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA) travelled to Switzerland to take part in exchanges with members of parliament and participate in the Council’s meeting. The gatherings took place in Bern on Thursday and Friday.
At the meeting with the Swiss Abroad parliamentary group, key foreign policy issues were on the agenda: the package of bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the European Union, and the Swiss People’s Party’s ‘No to a Switzerland of 10 million!’ initiative. Many delegates stressed the importance of stable relations with the EU – particularly for the mobility and rights of Swiss citizens living in Europe. The possible consequences for the diaspora, for example in the event of the abolition of free movement of persons, were raised but largely left open.
Today, the Council met at Bern’s Kursaal to set guidelines for the 2025–2029 legislative period. The Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA) is the supreme body of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA), often referred to as the “Parliament of the Fifth Switzerland”. It represents the interests of more than 800,000 Swiss nationals living abroad in dealings with authorities and the public.
The CSA and the OSA reacted with relief to the fact that parliament rejected most of the cuts that directly affected the Swiss Abroad in the government’s budget reduction programme. Federal contributions to Swissinfo and the OSA, as well as support for Swiss schools abroad, have largely been maintained. For the Council, this is an important political signal: services for more than 820,000 Swiss Abroad remain guaranteed.
Following the cable car accident in Engelberg (canton Nidwalden) on Wednesday that left one person dead, the press is seeking to clarify the circumstances of the tragedy. It has now emerged that the installation in question was not inspected during the last operating audit, while an expert believes strong gusts of wind may have caused the accident.
As Blick reports, ski lift operators are legally responsible for the safety of their installations. However, the Federal Office of Transport (FOT) conducts supervisory audits at least every five years. These checks are not carried out on every installation each time. In the case of the Titlis facilities, the last audit dates back to 2024, but did not include the lift involved in the accident.
The newspaper also explores possible causes. According to a specialist cited by Blick, the clamp – the device that connects the cabin to the cable – may have come loose. He considers it plausible that a gust of wind caused the cabin to sway, strike a pylon and detach from the cable.
On the day of the incident, winds approaching 90km/h were reportedly recorded in the region. The FOT notes, however, that European standards require operations to stop at wind speeds of 60km/h or more. In Switzerland, increased monitoring must already be implemented from 40km/h, with speed reductions if necessary.
Swimming pools are also making headlines. Geneva wants to ban the burkini in its public pools, while Porrentruy has been authorised to reintroduce restrictions on access to its municipal pool.
Geneva’s cantonal parliament passed a law on Thursday that does not explicitly mention the burkini, but limits swimwear to above-the-knee garments with bare arms – effectively excluding it. The Geneva cantonal government has criticised the move as an infringement of individual freedom and warned that the courts may ultimately decide the issue.
Opposing the measure, left-wing parties have denounced it as a xenophobic instrumentalisation of women’s bodies. “It is not a feminist act to legislate on women’s bodies,” said a Social Democrat parliamentarian. On the right, supporters cited health and safety concerns, as well as the desire to prevent coercion of women in public spaces.
In Porrentruy, the town council approved new regulations on Thursday allowing restricted access to its municipal pool. The measure aims to ensure public safety and tranquillity, but has been heavily criticised as discriminatory. Last summer, a ban on French residents using the pool sparked controversy.
Translated using AI/amva
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