Democracy

Switzerland holds the most referendums in the world by far and is known as a direct democracy. Our coverage looks at questions of Swiss democracy, as well as global issues that are linked to Switzerland and its well-established democratic tradition.

How Swiss direct democracy works

This content was published on Mar 31, 2025 What do direct democratic tools like popular initiatives and referendums really entail? And how has this unique system evolved over time?

Swiss democracy

The Swiss National Bank is located on Bundesplatz, just a few steps away from the Federal Palace.

How protected is the Swiss National Bank compared with the US Federal Reserve?

This content was published on Oct 4, 2025 Where does the Swiss National Bank’s independence come from, and how does it compare internationally?

How digital civil society helped shape the Swiss e-ID

This content was published on Sep 29, 2025 Erik Schönenberger from the Digital Society association calls the process of involving critics “exemplary” – in contrast to AI regulation.

Swiss voters back e-ID and abolish rental tax

This content was published on Sep 28, 2025 Final figures show 50.4% of voters backed e-ID and 57.7% approved a reform of home ownership taxes.

September 28, 2025 vote: the result from across Switzerland

This content was published on Sep 28, 2025 The Swiss have voted: use our interactive map to explore the detailed results of Sunday’s ballots on environmental responsibility.

Swiss citizens on decide on Sunday on a popular initiative calling for an economy that does not violate the ecological limits of the planet.

Switzerland votes on introducing electronic ID and abolishing rental tax

This content was published on Sep 27, 2025 Swiss citizens vote on the introduction of an electronic proof of identity. Pollsters expect a yes. The second issue to be voted on is the abolition of the rental tax for homeowners.

Democratic din: voters to decide fate of leaf blowers in Zurich

This content was published on Aug 28, 2025 In Switzerland’s biggest city, the ‘world’s most notorious power tool’ is facing a public ballot.

Unthinkable without volunteers: the 2025 Swiss Federal Gymnastics Festival attracted 300,000 people and 65,000 gymnasts to Lausanne.

How important is volunteer work to Swiss democracy?

This content was published on Aug 25, 2025 A new Volunteer Work Bulletin shows that those who volunteer are also more likely to be politically engaged.

Every summer, the village square in Bassersdorf, Canton Zurich, is the venue for the town meeting. The photo was taken in June 2017.

Swiss municipal assemblies: democracy on your doorstep

This content was published on Aug 12, 2025 In many Swiss municipalities, voters gather in local assemblies to decide on community matters themselves instead of leaving them to parliaments of elected officials.

Inheritance tax referendum spooks Swiss super-rich

This content was published on Jun 23, 2025 Bankers and lawyers warn of exodus ahead of public vote on 50% rate for the very wealthy.

Sarah Wyss, Chair of the Finance Committee, in parliament on June 5.

Swiss parliamentary session sets stage for noisy national debates

This content was published on Jun 23, 2025 The summer session of parliament drew to a close last week. What’s clear is that political debate in Switzerland is picking up again. Parliamentarians focused on several key upcoming people’s initiatives.

Elinor Ostrom receives the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden

The Swiss mountain village that inspired a Nobel Prize and digital governance

This content was published on Jun 20, 2025 A small Swiss mountain village has become the focus of scientific attention thanks to Nobel Prize winner Elinor Ostrom.

Information wars

Sevastopol in the Crimea in May 1944, the war is over. This photo has the title: "Life goes on".

Why studying Eastern European history is so political

This content was published on Oct 3, 2025 The subject has always been heavily dependent on political cycles. An analysis by Eastern European historian Fabian Baumann.

Fake news spread abroad about Switzerland is a liability

This content was published on Sep 5, 2025 False claims about Swiss neutrality are circulating internationally. Switzerland needs to do more to ensure that other countries do not have a false image of the country. A Swissinfo analysis.

Russia has been increasing its isolation in technology, culture and education.

Russia bans International Baccalaureate over ‘Russophobia’

This content was published on Aug 29, 2025 Russia bans International Baccalaureate: Students lose access to global diplomas as Kremlin tightens educational isolation.

On August 13, Roskomnadzor, the state media regulator, restricted calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, calling them “main voice services used to deceive and extort money, and to involve Russian citizens in sabotage and terrorist activities”

Behind Russia’s digital Iron Curtain: how the West and Switzerland look online

This content was published on Aug 29, 2025 We demonstrate how Russia’s digital Iron Curtain works with and without a VPN. [Spoiler: Swissinfo’s website doesn’t load in the country without one.]

Patrick Chappatte: ‘The path for satire has been getting narrower’

This content was published on Jun 24, 2025 Patrick Chappatte is one of the most prolific cartoonists. We talked to him about the current state of satire, media and free speech in the world.

people looking at vote information in a window

A delicate export: how Swiss foreign policy promotes democracy

This content was published on Jun 13, 2025 Switzerland has a constitutional mandate to promote democracy around the world. What happens when that world starts looking more authoritarian?

Habteab Yemane: high court judge in Eritrea, refugee in Switzerland

This content was published on May 19, 2025 Habteab Yemane became a lawyer because he believed in a constitutional state, but his journey led him somewhere else entirely.

International public media face uncertain future in democracies

This content was published on Apr 25, 2025 More and more Western governments are paring down their funding for international public media, even as authoritarian regimes beef theirs up.

A giant light installation of the flag of Switzerland, by Swiss artist Gerry Hofstetter, illuminates the north face of the Jungfrau mountain, next to the Eiger and Moench mountains, near the city of Thun, in 2012.

How Switzerland and other states are navigating disinformation

This content was published on Apr 6, 2025 How can the Alpine state navigate the dangers of hybrid warfare – and what are other European countries doing?

Tibetan and Uyghur people paused for a moment of silence to honor all victims at a rally on the Place des Nations in front of the United Nations' European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on September 16, 2016. Now, in addition to speaking up for the Tibetans in China, they're pushing the Swiss government to take action to protect themselves from transnational repression.

Chinese repression of Tibetans and Uyghurs: ‘Switzerland must take action now’

This content was published on Mar 17, 2025 Are countries such as Switzerland doing enough to protect its people from transnational repression by China?

Tibetans and Uyghurs in Switzerland fear long arm of China

This content was published on Feb 17, 2025 A study has revealed how China is intimidating Tibetans and Uyghurs in Switzerland. How will the Swiss government react?

Digital Democracy

How digital civil society helped shape the Swiss e-ID

This content was published on Sep 29, 2025 Erik Schönenberger from the Digital Society association calls the process of involving critics “exemplary” – in contrast to AI regulation.

An Estonian woman retrieves her digital health card. Photo taken in Tallinn, 2018.

Why a slow-paced digital transition may be best for democracy

This content was published on Sep 15, 2025 When it comes to digital transformation, Switzerland and digital pioneer Estonia are at the opposite ends of the spectrum. What can be learnt from these two very different experiences?

A dog on a leash waits as its owner votes in a booth for referendums on citizenship and job protections, at a polling station in Milan, Italy, Sunday, June 8, 2025.

E-collecting brings new lease of life to Italian democracy

This content was published on Jul 31, 2025 An e-ID and a state-run platform for collecting digital signatures have boosted the paths to participation in Italy – but it’s not all plain sailing towards digital democracy.

Social scoring: is the West following in China’s footsteps?

This content was published on Jul 1, 2025 The Swiss Data Protection Commissioner warns against social scoring as a result of social polarisation.

What would happen if you gave everyone points for good behaviour? The scenario has many risks.

Are social scoring systems a threat to democracies?

This content was published on Jun 30, 2025 A Swiss team is currently trying to find out how democracies can prevent social scoring.

AI would vote for mainstream parties, shows Swiss experiment

This content was published on Jun 6, 2025 ETH Zurich scientist Joshua Yang explains how artificial intelligence will change democracy.

How Switzerland and other states are navigating disinformation

This content was published on Apr 6, 2025 How can the Alpine state navigate the dangers of hybrid warfare – and what are other European countries doing?

light display featuring silhouette figures

How Swiss federalism is helping the rise of a new digital right

This content was published on Apr 3, 2025 Two Swiss cantons have become global frontrunners by introducing a constitutional protection for the online age.

‘It’s political’: why some people refuse to have a smartphone

This content was published on Mar 23, 2025 Almost two decades after the first iPhone, not everyone is ready to go fully digital. We talk to three people sceptical of the always-online life.

Digital democracy: will Swiss signature scandal pave way for e-collecting?

This content was published on Mar 8, 2025 It remains to be seen whether the signature scam will bring about the digitalisation of direct democracy in Switzerland. An overview of the situation.

How counterspeech is tackling hate speech in 2025

This content was published on Feb 17, 2025 As Facebook and Instagram relax content restrictions, the commitment of volunteers who push back against hate is becoming more crucial than ever.

Global elections

Opinion

In Eastern Europe corruption lies at heart of polarisation

This content was published on Sep 15, 2025 Political scientist Daniel Bochsler argues that the polarisation in Eastern Europe is more about criminal connections than content.

Taiwan is voting to restart a nuclear power plant – what’s at stake?

This content was published on Aug 8, 2025 Votes on nuclear energy are always about long-term risk assessment. In Taiwan, they are also about the risk posed by China.

Does democracy really make the world more peaceful?

This content was published on Jul 15, 2025 Many people are convinced of this. But is it true? Political scientists give their opinions.

Voting at 16: more than just a symbolic gesture?

This content was published on Jul 14, 2025 Should 16-year-olds get the vote? In Switzerland, the idea is often on the political agenda – and is just as often thrown off it again.

Political characters: ‘A dark personality has become an electoral asset’

This content was published on Jun 15, 2025 Leaders showing signs of narcissism or ruthlessness tend to be backed by more polarised voters, researchers say.

Italy’s referendum flop sends a warning to the left

This content was published on Jun 12, 2025 Italy’s latest referendums fell short of reaching the required turnout. Political scientist Giorgio Malet puts the results into perspective.

Tajik ruler Emomali Rahmon and Vladimir Putin shake hands after their meeting in Moscow in March 2025.

Promoting democracy in authoritarian Tajikistan – is Switzerland making a difference?

This content was published on Apr 30, 2025 While the government of Tajikistan’s long-standing ruler grows more repressive, Switzerland continues to support human rights – a delicate balancing act.

Stephan Büchi in his flat in Köniz near Bern, with pictures of some of his favourite places in Romania on the wall.

One Swiss man’s patient work towards a democratic Romania

This content was published on Apr 13, 2025 After the fall of the Iron Curtain, Stephan Büchi took up a short-term role in a Romanian children’s home. Decades later, his heart still beats for the country.

Why the AfD is keen on Switzerland’s direct democracy

This content was published on Feb 24, 2025 The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has long advocated for “Swiss-style” direct democracy. What does the party hope to achieve with this?

Supporters of left-wing Vetevendosje! party celebrate following results of a parliamentary election, in Pristina,

When Kosovo votes, so do 27,000 Kosovars in Switzerland

This content was published on Feb 19, 2025 A large number voted for the incumbent prime minister, Albin Kurti – who is well aware of the importance of his supporters in the diaspora.

January 6, 2021: supporters of Donald Trump break through security and storm into the symbolic heart of US democracy, the Capitol in Washington.

Why some people turn to authoritarianism in the name of freedom

This content was published on Jan 25, 2025 Sociologists Carolin Amlinger and Oliver Nachtwey explain the sometimes surprising origins of a new type of anti-democratic figure.

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