Hard-right Swiss People’s Party claims that immigrants cause traffic jams on Swiss roads; petrol prices fall below the 2-franc mark; plus other news in our roundup this Wednesday.
SVP’s new claim: Immigrants cause traffic jams on Swiss roads
The hard right Swiss People’s Party (SVP) has come up with a new, eleventh-hour attempt to get more votes in favour of its ‘No to 10 million’ initiative.
According to SVP deputy Stefanie Heimgartner, the 100,000 foreign nationals who arrive in Switzerland each year, cause Swiss motorists to spend 55,000 hours a year in traffic jams.
“This is not only annoying for commuters, but also a massive burden on our entire economy,” she said, adding that “those who allow unlimited growth, knowingly accept overload, congestion, and rising costs. Our country is on the verge of collapse.”
Petrol prices fall below the 2-franc mark, at last
Good news for Switzerland’s motorists: after weeks of climbing prices, the average price for a litre of unleaded 98 petrol costs – for the first time since March – less than 2 francs.
Concretely, the price is currently ‘only’ 1.88 francs, according to figures from the Touring Club Switzerland (TCS) motoring organisation.
As recently as the end of May, a litre on unleaded fuel cost 3 centimes more on average.
A litre of diesel is also cheaper – it is now 2 centimes cheaper at 2.10 francs per litre.
MPs want better control of foreigners staying at Swiss AirBnBs
The Council of States accepted a motion by deputy Mauro Poggia on Tuesday, seeking a better oversight of foreign visitors renting these types of accommodations in Switzerland.
His explanation for the move is that foreign criminals sometimes take refuge in Switzerland via rental platforms, so better monitoring “is a matter of national security.”
His motion was approved by a vote of 20 to 13.
Vaud will allow some car horns during the World Cup – but no too much
If Swiss ‘Nati’ wins a game during the upcoming FIFA World Cup in the United States, Vaud police will permit a certain degree of revelry– specifically, convoys of vehicles blowing their horns.
The gaiety must, however, be subdued: it can only last for up to 60 minutes after the match and not a second longer.
Furthermore, merrymaking after 10 pm is discouraged so as not to disturb those sleeping.
In other words, “the police invite supporters to celebrate discreetly, respecting the nighttime rest period” of the population.
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