Clashes erupt between G7 protesters and police in Geneva; government wants to strengthen the teaching of a second national language in primary schools; and more Swiss news in our roundup on Monday.
Clashes erupt between G7 protesters and police in Geneva
Clashes broke out Sunday between protesters and police in Geneva, including near the United Nations headquarters, a day before the G7 summit opens in nearby Evian in France.
Small groups of protesters, many dressed in black and wearing masks, threw bottles, stones, pieces of cement and firecrackers at the police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons.
Several buildings were targeted, including the offices of the UN’s International Telecommunications Union and a nearby premises of multinational accounting and consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Protesters were not able to get close to the UN’s European headquarters, located across the square, which had been heavily secured with large water cannon trucks parked in front. (AFP)
Government wants to strengthen the teaching of a second national language in primary school
The Federal Council announced on Friday the launch of a consultation process regarding an amendment to the law on languages.
Expressing its concern about efforts some school districts “to eliminate the teaching of a national language in primary school,” the government intends to “strengthen linguistic cohesion and diversity.”
Specifically, this move refers to the teaching of French, which a number of schools in Swiss-German regions have been eliminating from their curricula.
READ MORE: Is Zurich breaking Swiss law by scrapping French lessons in primary schools?
Travel news: New direct train to connect Basel and Brussels
Rail connections between Switzerland and European countries are being expanded: from summer 2027, for instance, the SBB, SNCF Voyageurs and the Belgian SNCB will test a new direct route between Basel and Brussels.
Concretely, Basel will be directly connected to the existing TGV Inoui network between Brussels and Strasbourg.
The new link will initially be offered three days a week: there will be a return trip on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays., the SBB announced on Friday.
The results of some cantonal votes on Sunday
Swiss citizens had cast their votes not only on national, but on cantonal issues as well:
Basel-City
Residents will be able to have their taxes deducted directly from their wages in the future, after accepting the corresponding change in tax regime.
With this move, Basel-City is the first canton to introduce direct tax deduction.
For companies with more than 50 employees, the tax deduction will be mandatory; for smaller firms, it will be voluntary.
Geneva
Voters approved an easing of the law regulating store opening hours.
This means retailers in the canton will be able to open for business on two Sundays per year, in addition to December 31st.
Work on these two Sundays is to be strictly voluntary, and employees will receive double pay.
Vaud
The principle of a minimum wage has taken its first step forward in the canton of Vaud. Citizens approved on Sunday the constitutional initiative to this effect,.
This measure should benefit some 23,000 cantonal residents who earn less than 23 francs per hour, representing nearly 5 percent of jobs.
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