More Swiss groups speak against the move to cut immigration, and Swiss MPs want to distance themselves from the United States — these are among the news that The Local reported this week. You can catch up on everything in this weekly roundup.
More Swiss groups speak out against the move to cut immigration
As June 14th – the date for the ‘No to 10 million’ referendum – is getting closer, more opponents of the initiative are coming forward, warning of the dire consequences this measure would have (if approved) on Switzerland’s economy.
The latest group to sound the alarm against the SVP proposal is a multi-party committee, composed of representatives from Radical-Liberals (PRL), Centre Party, Evangelical Party (EVP), as well as Green Liberal Party (GLP).
READ MORE: Who is leading the fight in Switzerland against the anti-immigration proposal?
Swiss MPs want to distance themselves from the US, get closer to the EU
the National Council adopted a motion calling on Switzerland to reduce its dependence on the United States for security matters, while strengthening cooperation with the EU and other European countries.
That’s because they deem the US president as ‘unpredictable’ and believe that closer relations with the European Union would provide Switzerland with more security in the long-term.
READ MORE: Swiss MPs urge Switzerland to distance itself from the United States
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What are the repercussions of the Iran war on Switzerland?
Switzerland is also affected by US and Israeli air strikes on Iran and Tehran’s response – plus the consequences it is likely to suffer in the near future.
Among them are the climbing petrol prices, as well as existing and potential consequences on travel industry / airlines, technology, as well as economy as a whole.
Terrorist acts are also a possibility, the government said.
READ MORE: How the war in the Middle East is impacting life in Switzerland
Zurich taxi drivers practice price gouging
Passengers have complained that, since the liberalisation of the sector – that is, removal of price caps – taxi drivers in Zurich have been charging exorbitant prices for even the shortest rides.
In response, the taxi association has asked the cantonal government to establish maximum fares that drivers are not allowed to exceed.
So far, however, no action has been takrn in this matter.
READ MORE: Taxi drivers in Zurich demand new price caps
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Six people died in a bus fire near Bern
The blaze happened in the small town of Kerzers, around 20 kilometres west of Bern.
It was started by a man that police described as ‘disturbed’ – and later reports conformed it.
The 65-year-old set himself on fire inside the Postbus, killing six people and injuring four others at the same time.
The reason why the man committed this act are not yet clear.
READ MORE: All victims in the deadly Swiss bus fire identified
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Easyjet charges much higher fares from Basel airport
From April 16th to May 20th, the airline will raise the price of its tickets by up to 1,682 percent’.
That’s because during the period in question, the EuroAirport will be renovating its main runway.
As a result of these works, 25 companies which regularly fly to and from this airport will suspend their operations, and only easyJet will fly to selected destinations from the airport’s secondary, shorter runway.
Therefore easyJet “is investing in specialised pilot training specifically tailored to operations on the secondary runway,” the company said. – and that is reflected in higher ticket prices.
READ MORE: Why are Easyjet flights from Basel up to ‘1,682 percent’ more expensive?
