Immigration tax to be debated in the Parliament from today; Geneva officials are worried about gang wars in nearby France ; and more Swiss news in our Monday roundup.
Immigration tax is on the agenda in the Parliament from today
As MPs convene for the autumn session of the Parliament today, the controversial issue of the immigration tax will be debated.
Under the proposal, “For employed individuals, the levy would be charged to employers, but adults arriving in Switzerland under family reunification provisions would also be subject to the tax and would have to pay it themselves.”
The debates in both houses of the Parliament – the National Council and the Council of States – could be long and contentious, especially as many deputies are against this measure.
READ MORE: Swiss ‘immigration tax’ proposal gets a boost from the government
Geneva officials are worried about gang wars in nearby France
The Geneva police are concerned about the rise in drug-related shootings in French cities of Annemasse and Gaillard – located 10 and 8 km away, respectively.
“Geographic proximity raises fears that the phenomenon could spill over here,” said Richard Boldrini, head of Geneva’s judicial police. “We are not France, but this proximity is very worrying.”
“Cooperation with France should make it possible to rapidly detect any potential contagion,” he added.
READ MORE: Calls in Switzerland to boost border controls with France after spike in crime
Bicycle accidents are twice as frequent in Switzerland as in the Netherlands
Joint research carried out by the ETH Zurich and the University of Twente in Enschede revealed an average of 0.19 bicycle accidents per 100,000 km traveled in Switzerland, compared to 0.09 in the Netherlands.
The reason for this disparity is “accident-prone infrastructure” in Switzerland, the study found.
In Swiss cities, for instance, cyclists often pass right next to waiting buses or pedestrians; in the Netherlands, by contrast, cycle paths generally run behind the bus stops.
Consequently, cyclists do not get in the way of cars on the road or passengers boarding or descending – and vice versa.
Increase in the number of unruly passengers reported on board SWISS aircraft
According to the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (BAZL), the number of incidents involving aggressiveness on the part of travellers on SWISS aircraft has risen significantly.
The union representing cabin crew is therefore calling for more consistent criminal prosecution of assaults on flight attendants.
In 2025, a total of 2,043 incidents involving so-called “unruly passengers” were reported – up from 1,730 the previous year.
The infractions range from ignored safety instructions and verbal aggression to physical violence and sexual assault.
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