Lucerne to lower the price of naturalisation procedure; MPs debate the rightwing anti-immigration proposal; and more Swiss news in our Tuesday roundup.
Lucerne plans to introduce a flat-rate naturalisation fee
Right now, city residents who apply for Swiss citizenship must pay high fees: individuals pay an average of 1,900 francs, and couples 2,300 francs for the municipal naturalisation process.
In addition, there are cantonal and federal fees as well.
On Monday, however, the City Council decided that these high fees could deter eligible individuals from seeking naturalisation.
Therefore, applicants in Lucerne will pay less in the future: municipal authorities are planning a flat fee of 500 francs per application – individual or family.
READ ALSO: How much does it cost to become a Swiss citizen in 2025?
National Council debates the anti-immigration initiative
The National Council has begun its debate on the SVP’s initiative called “No to Switzerland of 10 million people,” with no party offering its support to either the original initiative or a counterproposal from the Centre.
The latter seeks to control immigration with an alternative constitutional article, but without jeopardising free movement of people with the EU – in other words, a watered-down version of the SVP’s more radical proposal.
Given the contentious nature of the SVP’s proposal, the debate will continue until later in the week.
READ ALSO: Will Swiss voters back the anti-immigration proposal?
Advertisement
Also in the parliament…
The Greens want to tax ‘excessive’ air travel
Green MP Christophe Clivaz has submitted a motion in the parliament which is intended to discourage people from travelling by air.
How? He has proposed a system in which each Swiss resident’s first annual flight would be exempt from the tax.
However, the tax would then gradually increase with each subsequent trip. Additional surcharges based on distance traveled and class of travel would also be added.
“By adjusting the amount based on flight frequency, the tax burden will be concentrated on wealthier frequent travelers, rather than on those who fly only occasionally,” he said.
The motion is already stirring controversy among Clivaz’s more concervative colleagues.
“It’s a crazy, typically Green Party idea,” said deputy Christian Wasserfallen from the Radical-Liberal party, pointing out that only Swiss fliers would be impacted by this measure because Switzerland couldn’t impose it on international travellers.
Advertisement
Without the EU, Swiss GDP would decline by over 7 percent
The abandonment of bilateral agreements with the European Union would have severe repercussions for the Swiss economy, according to the BAK economic institute.
It estimated that losses would reach 45,700 francs per capita by 2045.
Additionally, Switzerland’s GDP would shrink by 7.1 percent, economists warned.
This decline represents the lack of growth the country would experience without bilateral agreements, they said.
If you have any questions about life in Switzerland, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local, please get in touch with us at news@thelocal.ch
