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US-Swiss double taxation ‘I prefer to fight to change the system’

By

Jeannie Wurz

The fifth in our series on US expats in Switzerland features cross-border financial planner and residency-based taxation advocate Jonathan Lachowitz.

Jura question Accusations of fraud frame final Jura votes

By

Marc-André Miserez

Two small Bernese municipalities are deciding whether to join the canton of Jura amid voter fraud accusations after the last such vote.

See in other languages: 3

• German (de) Betrugsvorwürfe bei letzter Abstimmung
• French (fr) Derniers votes sur fond d’accusations de fraude
• Italian (it) Ultime votazioni sullo sfondo di presunte frodi

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Have your say How would you vote in the Swiss referendum?

You might not have a vote on September 24, but how would you vote if you could? Take part!

in depth

in depth Vote September 24, 2017

A look at the issues on the ballot sheet for the September 24 nationwide votes.

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Direct democracy

#DearDemocracy

swissinfo.ch’s international portal for people with a passion for politics

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Follow-up material to accompany the main content

Here are additional stories besides the main content

Citizen participation How long before all Swiss expats can use e-voting?

The use of e-voting in Switzerland has been making slow progress. The Swiss Abroad want online voting to be established by October 2019.

See in another language: 1

• French (fr) Tous les expatriés pourront-ils voter en ligne en 2019?

International Day of Democracy 2017 My vote counts: having a say around the world

By

Ester Unterfinger (Picture editor), Renat Kuenzi (Text)

On the International Day of Democracy, a look at how people vote around the world. 

See in other languages: 8

• Arabic (ar) Copy of Fast die Hälfte der Weltbevölkerung kann wählen, aber…
• Spanish (es) ¡Mi voto cuenta!
• French (fr) Ma voix compte!
• Italian (it) Quasi la metà della popolazione mondiale può votare, ma…
• Japanese (ja) １６、１７年の各国の投票を振り返る
• Portuguese (pt) Meu voto conta!
• Russian (ru) Планета отмечает Международный день демократии
• Chinese (zh) 我的一票也算数！

Alpine marmot Cute rodent appears on postcards and plates

By

Susan Misicka and Julie Hunt

Their fat faces grace postcards; their fat is used in salves. In Switzerland, the marmot is part mascot, part medicine chest and part meal. 

See in other languages: 3

• German (de) Tier des Monats: das Murmeltier
• Japanese (ja) マーモット
• Chinese (zh) 当月动物明星

Opinion Why International Democracy Day matters to Switzerland

By

Christian Schoenenberger, Swiss ambassador to Sweden

Modern direct democracy keeps citizens tuned in with Swiss politics. It enables them to make an informed judgement in popular votes.

Cheers to that UNESCO status boosts wine trade in Lavaux

Wine producers in the spectacular wine-growing region on Lake Geneva have enjoyed success since getting UNESCO World Heritage status a decade ago.

Transparency and democracy No Swiss state funding for political parties? Not so fast.

By

Renat Kuenzi

State funding for Swiss political parties does exist, despite popular belief.

See in another language: 1

• Russian (ru) Как в Швейцарии финансируются партии?

On track? Trains are taking the strain, even in Switzerland

Like in other parts of the world, Swiss trains are also struggling to cope with increased demand.

2 There are 2 comments on this article.

Tama's Tales Why do Balkan boys get a bad rap?

Tama Vakeesan was born in Switzerland – to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka. She meets up with stand-up comedian, Sven Ivanic, who is Croatian, ...

3 There are 3 comments on this article.

Licence fee debate What’s the price of public broadcasting in Switzerland?

By

Balz Rigendinger

Parliament continues its debate of a people’s initiative aiming to scrap licence fees for the public Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC).

4 There are 4 comments on this article.

See in other languages: 6

• Arabic (ar) المبادرة الداعية إلى إلغاء رسوم الإذاعة والتلفزيون في سويسرا
• German (de) "No Billag" kurz erklärt
• French (fr) L’initiative pour l’abolition de la redevance en bref
• Italian (it) Iniziativa per l'abolizione del canone radio-TV in breve
• Portuguese (pt) O preço e o benefício das redes públicas na Suíça
• Russian (ru) Чего требует законодательная инициатива «No Billag»?

Cryptic investment Swiss super-rich want slice of cryptocurrency boom

By

Matthew Allen

Who are the investors eager to bet on bitcoin, and what plans do they have for their newly minted digital assets? 

6 There are 6 comments on this article.

See in other languages: 9

• Arabic (ar) السويسريون الأكثر ثراءً متلهفون للحصول على حصة من العُملة الرقمية
• German (de) Superreiche in der Schweiz und der Kryptowährungsboom
• Spanish (es) Los ricos quieren sacar tajada del 'boom' de las criptodivisas
• French (fr) Les super-riches de Suisse veulent profiter du boom des crypto-monnaies
• Italian (it) I super-ricchi svizzeri vogliono una fetta del boom delle criptovalute
• Japanese (ja) 仮想通貨ブーム　便乗狙うスイスの「スーパーリッチ」
• Portuguese (pt) Suíços super-ricos querem uma fatia do boom da criptomoeda
• Russian (ru) Швейцарский инвестиционный бум в сфере криптовалют
• Chinese (zh) 瑞士超级富豪想在加密货币大潮中分一杯羹

Electric planes Silent aircraft soar through Swiss skies

By

Christian Raaflaub, Grenchen

Electric aeroplane enthusiasts recently met in Switzerland to show off the latest technologies that could influence the air travel of tomorrow.

See in other languages: 4

• German (de) Leise surren die Motoren
• Spanish (es) Cuando los motores susurran por los aires
• French (fr) Quand les moteurs fredonnent doucement
• Italian (it) Quando i motori ronzano invece di rombare

Vote September 24 Support for pension reform slips slightly

By

Urs Geiser

A controversial old-age pension reform has been losing ground ahead of a nationwide vote on September 24.

2 There are 2 comments on this article.

See in another language: 1

• Arabic (ar) تراجُـعٌ طفيف لنسبة المؤيدين لمشروع إصلاح نظام التقاعد 2020

Living in Switzerland Isle of the Blessed

By

Otto Lampe

Although I worked diligently, I look back at my time as German ambassador to Switzerland as one big party.

1 There is one comment on this article.

See in other languages: 5

• German (de) Insel der Glückseligen
• Spanish (es) La isla de los afortunados
• French (fr) Une île de bienheureux
• Italian (it) L'isola dei beati
• Chinese (zh) 我在瑞士的幸福生活

Arts funding Treehouses of language: inside a Swiss literature foundation

By

Domhnall O'Sullivan

Rousseau, Hesse, Highsmith, Mann – fabled, yes, but did any of them ever write a book in a treehouse?

1 There is one comment on this article.

Swiss abroad Attacks on dual nationals irk the Swiss diaspora

By

Samuel Jaberg & Duc-Quang Nguyen

The Swiss Abroad, most of whom hold two passports, denounce the controversy over whether dual nationals should be elected to the Swiss cabinet.

4 There are 4 comments on this article.

See in other languages: 4

• German (de) Angriffe gegen doppelte Staatsbürgerschaft brüskieren Schweizer Diaspora
• French (fr) Les attaques contre la double nationalité heurtent la diaspora helvétique
• Italian (it) Gli attacchi contro la doppia nazionalità irritano la diaspora elvetica
• Portuguese (pt) Os ataques contra a dupla nacionalidade prejudicam a diáspora helvética

Pensionable age Are Swiss women privileged in Europe?

By

Armando Mombelli

The increase in the retirement age for women from 64 to 65 is one of the most controversial parts of Switzerland's pension reform package.

3 There are 3 comments on this article.

See in other languages: 8

• Arabic (ar) نساء سويسرا.. هل هن من بين المحظوظات في أوروبا فعلا؟
• German (de) Gehören Schweizer Frauen zu den Privilegierten Europas?
• French (fr) Les femmes suisses sont-elles privilégiées?
• Italian (it) Le donne svizzere tra le privilegiate in Europa?
• Japanese (ja) 女性の定年年齢、スイスは６４歳　各国は？
• Portuguese (pt) As mulheres suíças são mais privilegiadas?
• Russian (ru) Как быть в Швейцарии с пенсионным возрастом для женщин?
• Chinese (zh) 瑞士女性是否很幸运？

Geneva to Turkey Priceless Roman sarcophagus heads home after legal saga

By

Simon Bradley

Seven years after it was discovered in a Geneva free port, a rare Roman Empire-era sarcophagus is returning to Turkey.

Autumn session Parliament to mull over six popular initiatives

By

Renat Kuenzi

During this autumn session, which began Monday, Swiss parliamentarians will vote on no less than six popular initiatives

See in other languages: 2

• French (fr) Six initiatives populaires au menu du Parlement
• Italian (it) Sei iniziative popolari sotto la lente del Parlamento

Before the vote is after the vote Why the pension reform vote is not the end of the story

By

Bruno Kaufmann

A reform of the country’s old age pension scheme is an important, but only temporary decision, illustrates that direct democracy comes at a price.

See in another language: 1

• French (fr) Après Prévoyance 2020 se profile déjà une autre réforme