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Swiss Politics

What lies ahead for Switzerland: the major political issues of 2026

The coming year promises to be a landmark one for Swiss politics. It will be decisive for the future of relations between Switzerland and its European neighbours.

By Giannis Mavris

Switzerland remains under economic pressure from the United States following the announcement of the so-called "Liberation Day".

Swiss diplomacy

How Trump is manoeuvring Switzerland closer to the EU

By Giannis Mavris

Neutrality

How the neutrality initiative could affect Swiss policy

By Meret Michel

Foreign Affairs

What Switzerland can achieve with its 2026 OSCE chairship

By Thomas Greminger

What lies ahead for International Geneva in 2026

This content was published on Dec 27, 2025 Weakened by Donald Trump’s return and by a crisis of confidence in multilateralism, International Geneva is heading into 2026 under a cloud of uncertainty.

Anna Hug and Marianne Wüthrich of HUG AG

HUG: ‘We see our strongest growth in foreign markets’

This content was published on Dec 27, 2025 The two co-CEOs of Swiss biscuit maker HUG say the family-owned firm is not for sale. This is not stopping them from searching for acquisition targets.

The Geneva cardoon: a vegetable with spine

This content was published on Dec 27, 2025 The Geneva cardoon is a thistle-like relative of the globe artichoke. The unusual spiny-leaved vegetable is an intrinsic part of festive season in Geneva.

Switzerland Today

This content was published on Dec 24, 2025 On Wednesday: the Swiss still like their meat, and a former army colonel is blacklisted in Brussels.

2025 Review: six graphics to help explain Swiss trends

This content was published on Dec 26, 2025 Migration, climate change and AI: a selection of statistics from 2025 to help explain how these issues affect Swiss residents.

US news reported by the Swiss media

Every Wednesday: “Swiss views of US news”

New Swiss food regulations for 2026: GMOs, contaminants, pesticides and mushrooms

This content was published on Dec 26, 2025 From January 2026, new food regulations will apply in Switzerland that will have an impact on consumers, farmers, exporters and importers of food products.

Geopolitics

What lies ahead for Switzerland: the major political issues of 2026

What lies ahead for International Geneva in 2026

Inside Geneva: war in Ukraine grinds on despite peace talks

DECEMBER 18: Palestinian fishermen continue to work along the coastline of the besieged city of Gaza, under extremely difficult conditions, striving to earn a living and combat hunger despite limited resources and equipment damaged by Israeli attacks on December 18, 2025.

Famine ends in Gaza, yet chronic hunger continues to undermine recovery

Is Switzerland losing its place in the world?

A wooden building surrounded by snow-covered trees and mountains, with people walking past on a snow-covered path

Why Palantir is becoming a risky bet for Switzerland

A demonstrator with an Iranian flag and red hands painted on her face attends a rally in support of Iranian protests, in Paris on October 9, 2022, following the death of Iranian woman Mahsa Amini in Iran.

Explainer: What is gender apartheid?

A woman walks past a mural calling for women and children's rights in Afghanistan.

Could a new UN body help tackle ‘gender apartheid’ in Afghanistan?

Jacques Baud a retired colonel of the Swiss Army General Staff, and former strategic analyst specialising in intelligence and counterterrorism.

Former Swiss intelligence officer targeted by new EU sanctions against Russia

How Lebanon grapples with depression, anxiety and trauma

Ruffled Republicans, the cost of LA fires, and Disney goes AI

IUN Special Rapporteur for Russia, Mariana Katzarova, documents human rights abuses, torture and repression — inside one of the UN’s toughest mandates.

Mariana Katzarova: a mandate for the Russian people

The Palestinian feminists in Lebanon working between poverty and violence

Stadler Rail wins billion-franc night train order from Kazakhstan

AI is big business at Europe’s borders

Middle East crisis

Famine ends in Gaza, yet chronic hunger continues to undermine recovery

This content was published on Dec 22, 2025 The situation has improved in Gaza as famine ends. But consequences of hunger will be felt for generations.

Amnesty International criticises police violence at Bern Gaza demo

Amnesty criticises police violence at Bern Gaza demo

This content was published on Dec 16, 2025 Amnesty International Switzerland has criticised the police intervention at a Gaza demonstration in Bern in October as unjustified and excessive.

Because of Israel's participation: Nemo sends back ESC trophy

Swiss Eurovision winner Nemo returns trophy owing to participation of Israel

This content was published on Dec 12, 2025 For Nemo, Israel’s continued participation in the Eurovision Song Contest is a contradiction to the ideals and values of the singing competition.

More children from Gaza arrive in Switzerland

More injured children from Gaza arrive in Switzerland

This content was published on Nov 29, 2025 On Friday, 13 injured children from Gaza arrived in Geneva and Zurich before being sent for treatment to various hospitals across the country.

Schwyz government does not want to take in injured children from Gaza

Swiss canton has no space for injured Gaza children

This content was published on Nov 27, 2025 No room for injured children and their relatives from the Gaza Strip in the canton of Schwyz.

Swiss government pledges CHF23m for humanitarian aid in Gaza

This content was published on Nov 26, 2025 Switzerland pledges CHF23 million in new humanitarian aid for Gaza in support of US-led peace plan.

Swiss Gaza flotilla members contest government bill for consular aid

This content was published on Nov 26, 2025 Swiss Gaza flotilla members contest government bills for consular aid and plan to appeal.

Photo of a Palestinian young man carrying a bag containing aid near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution centre.

Controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation ends operations

This content was published on Nov 25, 2025 More than 1,000 people were killed near GHF distribution sites during clashes, according to the UN Human Rights Office.

Switzerland should recognise Palestine as a state according to survey

Most Swiss want recognition for Palestinian state

This content was published on Nov 23, 2025 More than half of the Swiss population is in favour of recognising Palestine as a state.

Launch of a petition in support of the artist dismissed by the OSR

Support for pro-Palestinian musician sacked by Swiss orchestra

This content was published on Nov 18, 2025 An open letter has been launched in support of a musician who was dismissed by the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande after wearing a keffiyeh at the end of a performance.

CHF 20 million to support the Gaza peace plan

Switzerland supports Gaza peace plan with CHF20 million

This content was published on Nov 5, 2025 Swiss to give CHF10m in humanitarian aid in Gaza, followed by another CHF10m.

Zurich government does not want to take in children from Gaza

Zurich government rejects proposal to take in Gaza children

This content was published on Oct 30, 2025 The Zurich cantonal government is sticking to its guns: it does not want to take in any injured children from Gaza. The security concerns are too great.

Zurich court partially acquits ETH squatters

Zurich court partially acquits pro-Palestine university squatters

This content was published on Oct 28, 2025 Zurich court partially acquits four pro-Palestine activists who had occupied the main hall of ETHZ.

Cassis welcomes a common position on Gaza at the end of his tour

Swiss foreign minister hails Mideast unity on Gaza at end of tour

This content was published on Oct 26, 2025 Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait were aligned on the Gaza peace plan, supporting a ceasefire and humanitarian aid, as he ended his Middle East visit on Saturday.

Seven children from Gaza and their families on their way to Switzerland

Seven injured children from Gaza and families travel to Switzerland for treatment

This content was published on Oct 24, 2025 Seven injured Palestinian children from Gaza took off on Friday morning from Amman in Jordan for Switzerland. They are to be treated in Swiss hospitals.

Global trade war

Roche and Novartis reach customs agreement with USA

Roche and Novartis reach tariff agreement with US

This content was published on Dec 20, 2025 On Friday evening the US government announced an agreement with nine pharmaceutical companies, including Novartis and Roche subsidiary Genentech.

EY: 'Despite the reduction, US duties are holding back the Swiss economy'

Reduced US tariffs ‘remain a burden’ for Swiss economy

This content was published on Dec 19, 2025 Despite the reduction from 39% to 15%, the effects of US duties on the Swiss economy remain considerable.

USA sets Switzerland deadline for binding customs agreement

Trump sets Switzerland tariff deal deadline

This content was published on Dec 18, 2025 US demands legally binding trade agreement with Switzerland by March 31.

Council committees support Federal Council in customs negotiations with USA

Swiss parliament supports government in US tariff talks

This content was published on Dec 16, 2025 The Swiss government has received backing from parliament for the planned negotiations with the United States.

National Council Committee supports negotiations with the USA

Swiss parliamentary committee supports tariff talks with US

This content was published on Dec 16, 2025 The Swiss government has received support for the upcoming negotiations with the United States on an economic and trade agreement.

Economiesuisse: Tariff reduction saves "numerous jobs"

US tariff reduction will save Swiss firms: business federation

This content was published on Dec 11, 2025 Swiss Business Federation economiesuisse relieved about US reduction.

US tariffs on imported goods from Switzerland fall to 15 per cent

Switzerland gains retroactive US tariff cuts

This content was published on Dec 11, 2025 US tariffs on Swiss goods will fall from 39% to 15% with retroactive effect from November 14.

SWI swissinfo.ch journalist on bribery and the Swiss Criminal Code

Is offering a Rolex to a foreign official considered bribery under Swiss law?

This content was published on Dec 9, 2025 Swissinfo examines whether the Swiss Criminal Code would apply to Swiss company executives who brought a pair of valuable gifts on a recent visit to the White House.

Federal Council adopts draft for customs negotiation mandate with USA

Switzerland adopts negotiating mandate for tariff agreement with US

This content was published on Dec 5, 2025 The Swiss government approved the draft negotiating mandate for a trade agreement with the United States on Friday.

A survey shows public scepticism about a tariff deal.

Swiss public sceptical over US tariff deal: survey

This content was published on Dec 3, 2025 Two-thirds of Swiss have misgivings over the recent tariff deal struck with the US, suggests survey.

Swiss economy shrinks significantly in the third quarter

Swiss economy shrinks significantly in third quarter

This content was published on Nov 28, 2025 As expected, US President Donald Trump’s tariff blow against Switzerland left its mark on the local economy in the third quarter.