Fresh protests over Covid policy mobilise thousands in Switzerland
Several Swiss cities witnessed demonstrations against the government's Covid-19 policy on Saturday, notably the recent imposition of a Covid certificate requirement to enter indoor areas like restaurants.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/ds
Русский
ru
Тысячи людей в Швейцарии протестовали против карантинных мер
Between 800 and 1,000 people took to the streets in a colourful, whistleblowing procession in French-speaking Lausanne. In German-speaking Switzerland the largest demonstration took place in Rapperswil-Jona in canton St Gallen, mobilising about 3,000 people.
In Lausanne, some demonstrators demanded the resignation of Health Minister Alain Berset likening him to a “dictator”.
“Berset, we don’t want your passports” and “Liberté (Freedom)” chanted the participants, who were walking without protective masks, according to the Swiss News Agency Keystone-SDA.
Protest signs read: “No to mass surveillance” and “For security we lose freedom”.
The Covid certificate, in the view of demonstrators in Lausanne, is a Nazi-like passport (or a tool for discrimination). Demonstrators distributed leaflets urging people to vote against the government’s approach in a referendum on November 28.
Rallies drew more than 1,000 demonstrators in the the northern town of Baden and about 400 in Lugano, the third demonstration held in the southernmost, Italian-speaking canton of Ticino.
Such events have become a weekly phenomenon and at times turn unruly and violent. No incidents were reported by police on Saturday.
Counteraction
A rally in support of the government’s policies gathered about 300 people in the capital Bern. Demonstrators there generally donned masks and some carried banners urging “Solidarity in the face of the crisis – solidarity against the Right”.
Many nations around the world have introduced vaccine mandates and digital health certificates (proving immunity or immunisation) in a bid to bring the coronavirus pandemic under control.
Globally, 5.5 billion vaccine dosesExternal link have been administered, according to the World Health Organization, but 80% of those are in high- and upper-middle-income countries.
In Switzerland, around 61% of the population are fully vaccinated against Covid. Swiss residents are required to show a Covid certificate to access indoor spaces like restaurants, bars and museums.
The Covid-19 pandemic – now in its fourth wave – has been punctuated by fierce debates across the world with governments struggling to find the balance between civil liberties and public health.
Swiss money laundering office registers record number of reports
This content was published on
The Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland (MROS) registered a record number of reports of suspicious activity last year.
Two teens accused of planning terror attack released from custody
This content was published on
The Schaffhausen judiciary has released the two teenagers from custody who allegedly planned bomb attacks in Switzerland.
OECD: Sluggish economic activity slowing growth in Switzerland
This content was published on
Sluggish economic activity at the start of the year is weighing on growth in Switzerland, with GDP expected to fall to 1.1% in 2024.
Report finds mistakes which led to Swiss government data breach
This content was published on
Mistakes were made by both the government and internet company Xplain in the case of a criminal cyber-attack on the Bern-based IT business.
Swiss government wants better gender balance in federal administration
This content was published on
New Swiss government personnel management targets say there must be even more female managers in the federal administration.
Swiss national science foundation funded over 5,000 projects in 2023
This content was published on
In 2023, the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) provided a total of CHF961 million worth of funding towards research projects.
Switzerland invites 160 delegations to June Ukraine peace talks
This content was published on
Russia is currently not among the delegations invited to talks aimed at helping bring about peace in the conflict between Moscow and Ukraine.
Survey: air travel most popular way to go on holidays for Swiss
This content was published on
Despite the climate crisis, flying is the most popular mode of transport for private travel – particularly among young, urban and high-income travellers.
Swiss government to use phone data to identify asylum seekers
This content was published on
From April 2025, authorities plan to be able to analyse data from mobile phones, computers and other data carriers to identify asylum seekers.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Bern to get tougher on unauthorised Covid protesters
This content was published on
Participants in often violent, unauthorised weekly protests in Bern against Covid measures will now have to pay for the cost of police operations.
This content was published on
Opponents have handed in signatures to force another vote on the law underpinning many of the government’s coronavirus measures.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.