The week in Switzerland
Dear Swiss Abroad,
the past week has been quite calm. And for good reason: Switzerland has gone into Easter holiday mode and is enjoying a spring break.
But holidays don't necessarily mean peace and quiet. Between accidents, traffic jams and soaring gas prices, this weekly news briefing is not lacking in drama.
Happy reading
There has been a lot of talk about the weather in Switzerland over the past few days. Not because there’s nothing else to talk about but because spring has arrived with a bang with temperatures worthy of May.
Meteoswiss and several media outlets have noted that these values are abnormally high, well above the averages of early April.
But the contrast in temperatures is just as striking. A cold air mass is expected to follow the mild weather, with a drop in temperatures of more than 10°C in 48 hours, and even the appearance of snow at middle altitudes. These variations reinforce the feeling of “irregular” weather and have been widely commented on in the media.
Nature has come out of its winter torpor earlier than expected. Crops are ahead of schedule and fruit trees are already in bloom. This could be good news but the expected return of cold weather now poses a risk of frost. Enough to give farmers cold sweats.
The high temperatures have another consequence: an increased risk of forest fires. A major fire broke out in Val Poschiavo, in the far east of Switzerland. It was finally brought under control on Wednesday thanks to the deployment of several army helicopters and firefighting personnel. In view of the weather situation, bonfires are now prohibited in Ticino and the Italian-speaking part of Graubünden.
The mild weather of the last few days has in any case made holidaymakers happy. The pace of work has slowed in Switzerland due to the traditional Easter school holidays, which usually last two weeks. And for many people, they are an opportunity to leave.
However, the conflict in the Middle East has affected the choice of destinations slightly. It goes without saying that Dubai, for example, is no longer really popular. According to a survey conducted by two holiday rentals websites and cited by RTS, the Swiss prefer destinations that are closer and easily accessible by car or train.
According to this survey, three countries stand out: Switzerland (nearly 42% of choices), Italy (19%) and France (about 11%). Ticino and Valais remain the preferred destinations for ‘staycations’. For destinations a little further afield, the Mediterranean is particularly popular. According to the analysis of the airline Easyjet, Spain, Tunisia and Greece are among the most popular destinations for the Swiss for this month of April.
But holidays are not always synonymous with relaxation. As usual, the media reported on two recurring problems, but particularly marked this year. On the one hand, the traffic jams at the Gotthard road tunnel: It took up to 3 hours and 20 minutes of waiting to cross the tunnel southbound. On the other hand, accidents in the mountains, which are still frequent. The three air rescue companies carried out a total of 311 missions over the Easter weekend alone, most of them for skiing accidents.
The Swiss media have also taken a lot of interest in transport prices over the past week. Indeed, whether it is cars or planes, the conflict in the Middle East has sharply increased the price of fuel, in Switzerland as elsewhere.
According to the Swiss Touring Club TCS, since the beginning of the conflict, the price of petrol has risen by 10% and that of diesel by 22%.
This situation is causing “petrol tourism” in some border cantons. Stock shortages in France have prompted many French motorists to fill up in French-speaking Switzerland. “We had a record influx, with record sales,” summed up a petrol station attendant from a Geneva municipality on RTS. In Ticino, on the other hand, the trend is the opposite. There, it is Swiss motorists who rush to the pumps on the other side of the border to take advantage of lower prices due to the Italian government’s tariff boost.
The recent conclusion of a two-week truce between the United States and Iran could ease the situation somewhat. Oil and gas prices plummeted as soon as the ceasefire was announced. Oil fell back below $100 a barrel on Wednesday. But there is no guarantee that this decline will last, as the truce is unanimously described as “fragile”.
On the other hand, it always takes a certain amount of time for the fall in the price of crude oil to be passed on at the pump, in particular because it is first necessary to sell off stocks bought at a high price. For the TCS, it is currently impossible to predict the evolution of the price of gasoline in the coming days, weeks, or even months.
The week was marked by the resumption of hearings in the investigation into the Crans-Montana tragedy.
A former municipal fire safety official has asserted his right to silence, explaining that he does not yet have all the facts at hand. This decision has provoked strong criticism from the lawyers of the civil parties, who denounce an additional obstacle to the establishment of responsibility.
Another important development concerns a procedural incident: the Valais Cantonal Rescue Organisation filed a criminal complaint against unknown persons after the broadcasting of recordings of emergency calls, some of which were not related to the tragedy. The leak raises sensitive data protection issues and adds a delicate component to an already complex investigation.
The Valais Cantonal Court also rejected a request for recusal against the Public Prosecutor’s Office. Considering that no serious misconduct justified a relinquishment, the court confirmed the prosecutors in their role, despite persistent criticism of the length and conduct of the proceedings. An appeal to the Federal Supreme Court remains possible.
Finally, relations are thawing with Italy. Recalled by Rome as a sign of disapproval for the way the Crans-Montana investigation was conducted, the Italian ambassador is back in Switzerland. In the media, Gian Lorenzo Cornado now praises the judicial collaboration between the two countries.
The week ahead: With the Easter holidays in place, the agenda for the coming week is sparse. However, business results and a watch fair should liven up proceedings.
On Tuesday, the Watches and Wonders watch fair will open in Geneva. It is the unmissable event for the Swiss and international watch industry, where all the major brands present their new models.
Also in economic matters, the insurance company Helvetia Baloise will present its 2025 results on Wednesday. Sika, Givaudan and Sulter will present quarterly results – an opportunity to take the temperature of the Swiss economy.
Translated using AI/ac
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